Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-AKW-LVG-SEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 0.05 to 0.4 dS/m
Optimal Range: 0.05 to 0.4
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

The optimal range for Soil Electrical Conductivity in Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands under sustainable grazing is 0.05 - 0.4 dS/m (measured as EC1:5​).

Metric Definition:

Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC) measured as EC1:5, the electrical conductivity of a 1:5 soil-to-water suspension.

Benchmark Definition:

The optimal functional range for soil electrical conductivity in Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands under sustainable grazing, supporting resilient perennial pasture species.

Justification:

Combines the natural baseline floor with the upper detrimental threshold to define a healthy, stable condition supporting resilient perennial pasture species.

Sources (1)

Preview of Great Western Woodlands BASE Contextual, Soil Physico-Chemical Data 2013
Great Western Woodlands BASE Contextual, Soil Physico-Chemical Data 2013 Government

Great Western Woodlands BASE Contextual, Soil Physico-Chemical Data 2013

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Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Great Western Woodlands SuperSite | Climate Change Impacts - TERN Australia, accessed July 10, 2025,
Great Western Woodlands SuperSite | Climate Change Impacts - TERN Australia, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

URBAN FOREST STRATEGY - Your Say South Perth, accessed July 13, 2025

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Preview of Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ..., accessed May 12, 2025
Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ..., accessed May 12, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Understanding soil tests for pastures

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Healthy Operational Range
  • Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 21 Mar 2026

Notes

Management should strive to maintain EC levels in the lower portion of this range. Values within this range support a healthy ecosystem of salt-tolerant perennial pasture.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AKW-LVG-SEC family.

0.4 dS/m Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Degradation Threshold
MinimumOnly Active v1
— dS/m Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Reference Condition
OptimalRange Active v1