Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-AIF-LVG-SOC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

4.5 %
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: Point

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is Point, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Evidence & Context

The most specific and relevant study providing a quantifiable benchmark is the CSIRO research by Wilson et al. (2013), titled "Carbon storage value of native vegetation on a subhumid–semi-arid floodplain". This study reported SOC values of up to 4.5% in the surface (0–5 cm) soil in River Red Gum communities on Grey Vertosols within a semi-arid floodplain grazing landscape.

Metric Definition:

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) concentration in the surface soil (0-10 cm) representing the best available ecological condition under sustainable livestock grazing.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the peak soil organic carbon concentration in the top 10 cm of soil in productive riparian zones under sustainable grazing in the arid inland floodplains biome.

Justification:

This value reflects the highest measured SOC concentration in the most productive riparian zones under sustainable grazing, supported by peer-reviewed CSIRO research.

Sources (1)

Preview of Carbon storage value of native vegetation on a subhumid–semi-arid floodplain
Carbon storage value of native vegetation on a subhumid–semi-arid floodplain Journal

Carbon storage value of native vegetation on a subhumid–semi-arid floodplain

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Carbon storage in temperate and semi-arid Australian plant communities containing cotton
Carbon storage in temperate and semi-arid Australian plant communities containing cotton
Contextual Support Journal

Baseline map of organic carbon in Australian soil to support national carbon accounting and monitoring under climate change

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Vegetation Riparian
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 3 Jun 2026

Notes

Represents the peak natural potential of the biome's clay-rich floodplain soils under best-practice grazing management. No evidence of an upper detrimental threshold; natural carbon saturation defines the upper limit.