Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-AIF-CON-SOC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 3.5 to 4.7 %

Optimal Range: 3.5 to 4.7

Direction: Higher 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. The scoring engine uses 2 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard

Evidence & Context

An optimal range is soil-specific, centered around the benchmark for clays and ~0.5−1.0% for sands.

Metric Definition:

Optimal functional range of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) for ecosystem health, soil-specific with different ranges for clays and sands.

Benchmark Definition:

Optimal Soil Organic Carbon range for cracking clay soils indicating robust soil structure and ecosystem function.

Justification:

This range represents a healthy and functional state for fertile cracking clay soils within the biome.

Sources (1)

Preview of Soil organic carbon dust emission: a synthesis of recent Australian research

Soil organic carbon dust emission: a synthesis of recent Australian research

Soil organic carbon dust emission: a synthesis of recent Australian research

Supporting Sources (14)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Australian net (1950s-1990) soil organic carbon erosion ..., accessed July 21, 2025,

(PDF) Australian net (1950s-1990) soil organic carbon erosion ..., accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Knowledge Review - WaterConnect

Preview of A COMMUNITY INFORMATION PAPER FOR THE QUEENSLAND ..., accessed July 21, 2025,

A COMMUNITY INFORMATION PAPER FOR THE QUEENSLAND ..., accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Mitchell Grass Downs, Northern Territory - ResearchGate, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of Disturbance and resilience in riparian woodlands on the highly modified Upper Condamine floodplain - University of Southern Queensland Repository

Disturbance and resilience in riparian woodlands on the highly modified Upper Condamine floodplain - University of Southern Queensland Repository

Contextual Support

Biodiversity Assessment Method - EPBC Act Public Portal

Preview of Disturbance and resilience in riparian woodlands on the highly modified Upper Condamine floodplain - University of Southern Queensland Repository, accessed July 21, 2025,

Disturbance and resilience in riparian woodlands on the highly modified Upper Condamine floodplain - University of Southern Queensland Repository, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Disturbance and resilience in riparian woodlands on the highly modified Upper Condamine floodplain - University of Southern Queensland Repository, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of Drivers of seedling establishment success in dryland restoration efforts - ResearchGate, accessed July 21, 2025,

Drivers of seedling establishment success in dryland restoration efforts - ResearchGate, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health Technical Reference 1734-6, Version 5 August 2020

Preview of Drone maps, healthy ecosystems and Traditional knowledge: CMLR updates - Sustainable Minerals Institute - The University of Queensland, accessed July 21, 2025,

Drone maps, healthy ecosystems and Traditional knowledge: CMLR updates - Sustainable Minerals Institute - The University of Queensland, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Drone maps, healthy ecosystems and Traditional knowledge: CMLR updates - Sustainable Minerals Institute - The University of Queensland, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of Enhancing Soil Health to Mitigate Soil Degradation - UNCCD, accessed July 21, 2025,

Enhancing Soil Health to Mitigate Soil Degradation - UNCCD, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Enhancing Soil Health to Mitigate Soil Degradation - UNCCD, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of finalrepport, accessed July 21, 2025,

finalrepport, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

finalrepport, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of Geospatial technologies for land degradation assessment and management 9781315152325, 1315152320, 9781351638838, 1351638831, 9781351648363, 1351648365, 9781498749619, 1498749615 - DOKUMEN.PUB, accessed July 21, 2025,

Geospatial technologies for land degradation assessment and management 9781315152325, 1315152320, 9781351638838, 1351638831, 9781351648363, 1351648365, 9781498749619, 1498749615 - DOKUMEN.PUB, accessed July 21, 2025,

Methodology Source GreyLiterature

Geospatial technologies for land degradation assessment and management 9781315152325, 1315152320, 9781351638838, 1351638831, 9781351648363, 1351648365, 9781498749619, 1498749615 - DOKUMEN.PUB, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of Long‐term livestock exclusion increases plant richness and reproductive capacity in arid woodlands - ResearchGate, accessed July 21, 2025,

Long‐term livestock exclusion increases plant richness and reproductive capacity in arid woodlands - ResearchGate, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Mean total species richness in each treatment at each conservation... - ResearchGate, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of Mitchell Grass Downs Planned Burn Guideline - Parks and forests, accessed July 21, 2025,

Mitchell Grass Downs Planned Burn Guideline - Parks and forests, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Mitchell Grass Downs Planned Burn Guideline - Parks and forests, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of Overlooking dynamics of reactive minerals in soil organic carbon sequestration, accessed July 21, 2025,

Overlooking dynamics of reactive minerals in soil organic carbon sequestration, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Overlooking dynamics of reactive minerals in soil organic carbon sequestration, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of Protected Areas: Buffering nature against climate change - PreventionWeb.net, accessed July 21, 2025,

Protected Areas: Buffering nature against climate change - PreventionWeb.net, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Protected Areas: Buffering nature against climate change - PreventionWeb.net, accessed July 22, 2025

Preview of Soil Health and Climate Change, accessed July 21, 2025,

Soil Health and Climate Change, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Soil carbon - Department for Environment and Water, accessed July 30, 2025

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 3 Jun 2026

Notes

Supports robust soil structure, high water infiltration and retention, efficient nutrient cycling, and high native biodiversity. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AIF-CON-SOC family.