Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-AMR-LVG-SEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.3 dS/m
Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 0.3
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: MaximumOnly

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context. The scoring engine uses 16 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 15 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard UpperThreshold Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Based on the synthesis of biophysical principles and available data, a benchmark value of ²64 0.3 dS/m (ECe²0b) for topsoil (0³10 cm) is recommended.

Metric Definition:

Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC) measured as ECe in the topsoil (0-10 cm)

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the maximum soil electrical conductivity in the topsoil (0-10 cm) under best-practice grazing management in Australian Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands, indicating no salinity-induced stress on the ecosystem.

Justification:

This benchmark is derived from first principles as no direct published value for "best available condition" exists for this specific context. It is well below the 0.7 dS/m threshold where key soil microbial processes begin to be inhibited and consistent with a direct measurement from a comparable semi-arid rangeland system.

Sources (2)

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Soil Electrical Conductivity - Natural Resources Conservation Service Journal

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Supporting Sources (29)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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(PDF) Spatial patterns of scorpions (Scorpiones) in the arid Pilbara region of Western Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Spatial patterns of scorpions (Scorpiones) in the arid Pilbara region of Western Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 28, 2025

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Preview of A BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE FLINDERS RANGES SOUTH AUSTRALIA - Enviro Data SA
A BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE FLINDERS RANGES SOUTH AUSTRALIA - Enviro Data SA
Contextual Support Journal

A BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE FLINDERS RANGES SOUTH AUSTRALIA - Enviro Data SA, accessed July 31, 2025

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Preview of Assessing long-term change in rangeland ecological health using the Western Australian rangeland monitoring system - espace - Curtin's institutional repository, accessed July 28, 2025
Assessing long-term change in rangeland ecological health using the Western Australian rangeland monitoring system - espace - Curtin's institutional repository, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Assessing long-term change in rangeland ecological health using the Western Australian rangeland monitoring system - espace - Curtin's institutional repository, accessed July 28, 2025

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Preview of ausplotsR: An R package for rapid extraction and analysis of vegetation and soil data collected by Australia's Terrestrial Eco - EcoEvoRxiv, accessed July 28, 2025
ausplotsR: An R package for rapid extraction and analysis of vegetation and soil data collected by Australia's Terrestrial Eco - EcoEvoRxiv, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

ausplotsR: An R package for rapid extraction and analysis of vegetation and soil data collected by Australia's Terrestrial Eco - EcoEvoRxiv, accessed July 28, 2025

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Preview of Australia's bioregions (IBRA) - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025
Australia's bioregions (IBRA) - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support

Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA), Version 7 (Regions), accessed July 12, 2025,

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Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 12, 2025
Do regenerative grazing management practices ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 12, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 11, 2025,

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Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,
Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 17, 2025,

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Preview of First two axes of the PCA ordination of sampled plots latitude within... - ResearchGate, accessed July 28, 2025
First two axes of the PCA ordination of sampled plots latitude within... - ResearchGate, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

First two axes of the PCA ordination of sampled plots latitude within... - ResearchGate, accessed July 28, 2025

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Preview of Flinders Lofty Block bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 29, 2025,
Flinders Lofty Block bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 29, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

MacDonnell Ranges bioregion - DCCEEW

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Preview of Life in the 1cdead heart1d of Australia: The geohistory of the Australian deserts and its impact on genetic diversity of arid zone, accessed July 28, 2025
Life in the 1cdead heart1d of Australia: The geohistory of the Australian deserts and its impact on genetic diversity of arid zone, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Northern & Yorke | South Australia | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 28, 2025

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Preview of List of ecoregions in Australia - Wikipedia, accessed July 28, 2025
List of ecoregions in Australia - Wikipedia, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

List of ecoregions in Australia - Wikipedia, accessed July 28, 2025

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Preview of Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production, accessed July 27, 2025,
Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production, accessed July 27, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Final Report – Volume 2 - Estimating Pasture Total Standing Biomass (TSDM) from Landsat Fractional Cover., accessed April 29, 2025,

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Preview of Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services - Frontiers, accessed July 30, 2025,
Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services - Frontiers, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 10, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Monitoring your natural resources and land condition - MBFP-Pastoral, accessed July 28, 2025
Monitoring your natural resources and land condition - MBFP-Pastoral, accessed July 28, 2025
Methodology Source GreyLiterature

Monitoring your natural resources and land condition - MBFP-Pastoral, accessed July 28, 2025

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Preview of Motivations, risks and skills of graziers to inform extension for management of high levels of ground cover - Queensland Government publications, accessed July 19, 2025
Motivations, risks and skills of graziers to inform extension for management of high levels of ground cover - Queensland Government publications, accessed July 19, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services - Frontiers, accessed July 28, 2025

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Preview of Pastoralists' knowledge of plant palatability and grazing indicators in an arid region of South Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 27, 2025
Pastoralists' knowledge of plant palatability and grazing indicators in an arid region of South Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Pastoralists' knowledge of plant palatability and grazing indicators in an arid region of South Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 28, 2025

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Prospects for sustainable use of the pastoral areas of Australia's southern rangelands: a synthesis - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 29, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

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RANGELANDS: TRACKING CHANGES 14 SUMMARY - The Royal Society of Queensland, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

RANGELANDS: TRACKING CHANGES 14 SUMMARY - The Royal Society of Queensland, accessed July 28, 2025

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Preview of Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review, accessed August 5, 2025,
Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review

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Preview of Salinity | Land and soil - Environment and Heritage - NSW Government, accessed August 11, 2025
Salinity | Land and soil - Environment and Heritage - NSW Government, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support Government

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Salinity in Western Australia : a situation statement - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support

Characterising the relationship between water quality and water quantity, accessed July 13, 2025

View Source
Preview of Salinity Management in the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia - MDPI, accessed July 16, 2025,
Salinity Management in the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia - MDPI, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Salinity Management in the Murray13Darling Basin, Australia - MDPI, accessed July 28, 2025

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Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Organic Carbon (3" resolution) - Release 2 - TERN Data Discovery Portal, accessed July 28, 2025
Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Organic Carbon (3" resolution) - Release 2 - TERN Data Discovery Portal, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Organic Carbon (3" resolution) - Release 2 - TERN Data Discovery Portal, accessed July 28, 2025

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Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - esoil.io, accessed July 13, 2025
Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - esoil.io, accessed July 13, 2025
Contextual Support Government

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Preview of Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment, accessed August 10, 2025,
Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

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Preview of South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy - Convention on Biological Diversity, accessed July 29, 2025,
South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy - Convention on Biological Diversity, accessed July 29, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Salinity Management Handbook - Queensland Government ..., accessed July 28, 2025

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Preview of Spatial distribution patterns of scorpions (Scorpiones) in the arid Pilbara region of Western Australia - Western Australian Museum, accessed July 28, 2025, )_271to284_VOLSCHENKetal.pdf
Spatial distribution patterns of scorpions (Scorpiones) in the arid Pilbara region of Western Australia - Western Australian Museum, accessed July 28, 2025, )_271to284_VOLSCHENKetal.pdf
Contextual Support

Spatial distribution patterns of scorpions (Scorpiones) in the arid Pilbara region of Western Australia - Western Australian Museum, accessed July 28, 2025, )_271to284_VOLSCHENKetal.pdf

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Preview of Subpart K- An Ecosystem View of Range-Pasture-Soil Health - USDA, accessed August 6, 2025,
Subpart K- An Ecosystem View of Range-Pasture-Soil Health - USDA, accessed August 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Subpart K- An Ecosystem View of Range-Pasture-Soil Health - USDA, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of The grazing of cattle in the southern pastoral areas of Western Australia - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed July 28, 2025
The grazing of cattle in the southern pastoral areas of Western Australia - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support

The grazing of cattle in the southern pastoral areas of Western Australia - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed July 28, 2025

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

In Australian arid rangelands, low EC is a primary indicator of a healthy, functional water cycle—a key outcome of best-practice grazing that prevents secondary salinisation. High EC indicates hydrological dysfunction and degradation.

Related Benchmarks

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

— dS/m Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1