Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TSW-FOR-SEC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

2 dS/m

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 12 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 11 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

Therefore, an ECe of 2.0 dS/m represents a clear and defensible upper detrimental threshold for maintaining a high-health state.

Metric Definition:

Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC) is a fundamental measure of a soil's ability to conduct an electrical current, which is primarily determined by the concentration of dissolved salts and ions in the soil water.

Benchmark Definition:

An upper detrimental threshold of soil electrical conductivity (EC) beyond which soil health declines, indicating the onset of degradation in the temperate semi-arid shrublands and open woodlands biome under production forestry.

Justification:

This threshold is strongly supported by a convergence of evidence: it is the point at which state government agencies classify soils as 'slightly saline,' and sensitive Eucalypt species begin to show physiological stress.

Supporting Sources (25)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of A review on effective soil health bio-indicators for ecosystem restoration and sustainability, accessed July 11, 2025,

A review on effective soil health bio-indicators for ecosystem restoration and sustainability, accessed July 11, 2025,

Contextual Support

A review on effective soil health bio-indicators for ecosystem restoration and sustainability, accessed July 11, 2025

Preview of A review on effective soil health bio-indicators for ecosystem restoration and sustainability, accessed May 13, 2025,

A review on effective soil health bio-indicators for ecosystem restoration and sustainability, accessed May 13, 2025,

Contextual Support Irrelevant Journal

Soil Respiration - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed August 1, 2025

Preview of All About Salinity - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 11, 2025

All About Salinity - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 11, 2025

Contextual Support Regulatory Framework

All About Salinity - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 11, 2025

Preview of Assessing saline areas in Western Australia | Agriculture and Food, accessed July 11, 2025,

Assessing saline areas in Western Australia | Agriculture and Food, accessed July 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence

Assessing saline areas in Western Australia | Agriculture and Food, accessed July 11, 2025

Preview of Australia's Framework of Criteria and Indicators - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,

Australia's Framework of Criteria and Indicators - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Australia's Framework of Criteria and Indicators - DAFF, accessed July 30, 2025,

Preview of Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025,

Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

How should we manage our soils to increase soil carbon?, accessed May 10, 2026

Preview of Effect of NaCl on emergence and growth of a range of provenances of Eucalyptus citriodora, Eucalyptus populnea, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Acacia salicina - ResearchGate, accessed July 11, 2025,

Effect of NaCl on emergence and growth of a range of provenances of Eucalyptus citriodora, Eucalyptus populnea, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Acacia salicina - ResearchGate, accessed July 11, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Effect of NaCl on emergence and growth of a range of provenances of Eucalyptus citriodora, Eucalyptus populnea, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Acacia salicina - ResearchGate, accessed July 11, 2025

Preview of Effect of Soil Water on Apparent Soil Electrical Conductivity and Texture Relationships in a Dryland Field - USDA ARS, accessed July 11, 2025,

Effect of Soil Water on Apparent Soil Electrical Conductivity and Texture Relationships in a Dryland Field - USDA ARS, accessed July 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source Journal

Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed July 11, 2025

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 Government

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

Preview of management of inland arid and semi-arid woodland ... - DBCA Library, accessed July 12, 2025,

management of inland arid and semi-arid woodland ... - DBCA Library, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

management of inland arid and semi-arid woodland ... - DBCA Library

Preview of Measuring organic carbon in Calcarosols: understanding the pitfalls and complications, accessed July 22, 2025,

Measuring organic carbon in Calcarosols: understanding the pitfalls and complications, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Salinity Explained, accessed July 11, 2025

Preview of Physiological Responses of Eucalyptus Under Saline Environment. I: Ionic Composition in Selected Salt Tolerant and Salt Sensitive Provenances of Eucalyptus Camaldulensis - Science Alert, accessed July 11, 2025,

Physiological Responses of Eucalyptus Under Saline Environment. I: Ionic Composition in Selected Salt Tolerant and Salt Sensitive Provenances of Eucalyptus Camaldulensis - Science Alert, accessed July 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

scialert.net, accessed July 11, 2025

Preview of Predictive Mapping of Electrical Conductivity and Assessment of Soil Salinity in a Western T�rkiye Alluvial Plain - ResearchGate, accessed July 11, 2025,

Predictive Mapping of Electrical Conductivity and Assessment of Soil Salinity in a Western T�rkiye Alluvial Plain - ResearchGate, accessed July 11, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Predictive Mapping of Electrical Conductivity and Assessment of Soil Salinity in a Western Türkiye Alluvial Plain - ResearchGate, accessed July 11, 2025

Preview of Production functions of eucalyptus for the design of saline-drainage water reuse systems - USDA ARS, accessed July 11, 2025,

Production functions of eucalyptus for the design of saline-drainage water reuse systems - USDA ARS, accessed July 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Production functions of eucalyptus for the design of saline-drainage water reuse systems - USDA ARS, accessed July 11, 2025

Preview of Salinity in the Mallee Region | VRO - Victorian Resources Online, accessed July 11, 2025,

Salinity in the Mallee Region | VRO - Victorian Resources Online, accessed July 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Mallee seeps - Eyre Peninsula - Landscape SA, accessed July 11, 2025

Preview of Salinity: Electrical Conductivity and Total Dissolved Solids - USDA ARS, accessed July 11, 2025,

Salinity: Electrical Conductivity and Total Dissolved Solids - USDA ARS, accessed July 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source Journal

ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY, BASIC CATIONS AND ORGANIC MATTER CONTENT OF SOILS UNDER DIFFERENT LAND USE PRACTICES IN AKWA IBOM STATE - African - British Journals, accessed July 18, 2025

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 Direct Evidence Government

Analysing water sensitive urban design options - Australian Water Association

Preview of Soil Electrical Conductivity - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed May 16, 2025,

Soil Electrical Conductivity - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed May 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source Journal

USDA 12

Preview of Soil management guides - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 11, 2025,

Soil management guides - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil management guides - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 11, 2025

Preview of Soil management guides - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 30, 2025,

Soil management guides - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Government

Managing soils during and after drought in cropping systems - Fact sheet - Soil CRC, accessed July 17, 2025

Preview of Top 6 Sustainable Forest Management Techniques, accessed July 11, 2025,

Top 6 Sustainable Forest Management Techniques, accessed July 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Top 6 Sustainable Forest Management Techniques, accessed July 11, 2025

Preview of Top 6 Sustainable Forest Management Techniques, accessed July 12, 2025,

Top 6 Sustainable Forest Management Techniques, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Sustainable native forest management, accessed July 12, 2025

Preview of Trees in the landscape, Part 2: Eucalyptus spathulata, accessed July 11, 2025,

Trees in the landscape, Part 2: Eucalyptus spathulata, accessed July 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Trees in the landscape, Part 2: Eucalyptus spathulata, accessed July 11, 2025

Preview of Victorian Ecosystems - Mallee - Viridans Biological Databases, accessed July 11, 2025,

Victorian Ecosystems - Mallee - Viridans Biological Databases, accessed July 11, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Victorian Ecosystems - Mallee - Viridans Biological Databases, accessed July 11, 2025

Preview of www.publications.qld.gov.au, accessed May 16, 2025,

www.publications.qld.gov.au, accessed May 16, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

Measuring soil salinity - The Australian Wine Research Institute

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Not Stated
Vegetation Woodland
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 27 May 2026

Notes

Any sustained EC level above this threshold indicates a departure from the best available condition and the onset of management-induced degradation. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSW-FOR-SEC family.