Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-TGP-LVG-SOC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 2 to 4 %

Optimal Range: 2 to 4

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, 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.

Contributing Benchmarks

CompositeFramework Primary MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard CompositeFramework Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard CompositeFramework Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

the optimal range for SOC in temperate grazing systems can be defined as 2.0% to approximately 4.0%.

Metric Definition:

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) is a cornerstone of soil health and a primary indicator of ecological function and agronomic sustainability in agricultural landscapes.

Benchmark Definition:

Range where soil functions are robust and the ecosystem is healthy and productive.

Justification:

2% SOC is considered 'optimal for aggregate stability', and targets for high-quality pastures are >3.0%.

Sources (1)

Preview of Baseline map of organic carbon in Australian soil to support national carbon accounting and monitoring under climate change - PubMed Central, accessed August 5, 2025,

Baseline map of organic carbon in Australian soil to support national carbon accounting and monitoring under climate change - PubMed Central, accessed August 5, 2025, Journal

Soil Organic Matter and Carbon Sequestration

Supporting Sources (47)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Temperate Regenerative Agriculture practices increase soil carbon but not crop yield – a meta-analysis - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

(PDF) Temperate Regenerative Agriculture practices increase soil carbon but not crop yield – a meta-analysis - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Temperate Regenerative Agriculture practices increase soil carbon but not crop yield – a meta-analysis - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Australia's forests – overview - DAFF, accessed August 5, 2025,

Australia's forests – overview - DAFF, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Eastern Australian Temperate Forests | One Earth, accessed April 29, 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 Direct Evidence Journal

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

Preview of Critical review of the impacts of grazing intensity on soil organic carbon storage and other soil quality indicators in extensiv - Murdoch Research Portal, accessed August 5, 2025,

Critical review of the impacts of grazing intensity on soil organic carbon storage and other soil quality indicators in extensiv - Murdoch Research Portal, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Critical review of the impacts of grazing intensity on soil organic carbon storage and other soil quality indicators in extensiv - Murdoch Research Portal

Preview of Degradation: Soil, Organic Carbon Content, Overuse & Climate are Interconnected, accessed August 5, 2025,

Degradation: Soil, Organic Carbon Content, Overuse & Climate are Interconnected, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Degradation: Soil, Organic Carbon Content, Overuse & Climate are Interconnected, accessed August 5, 2025,

Preview of Disturbance and management effects on forest soil organic carbon stocks in the Pacific Northwest, accessed August 5, 2025,

Disturbance and management effects on forest soil organic carbon stocks in the Pacific Northwest, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

Degradation: Soil, Organic Carbon Content, Overuse & Climate are Interconnected, accessed August 5, 2025

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 - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 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 - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Ludwig, J.A., Bastin, G.N., Chewings, V.H., Eager, R.W., and Liedloff, A.C. (2005). Clearing savannas for use as rangelands in Queensland: Altered landscapes and water-erosion processes. Rangeland Journal, 27(2), 135-149.

Effects of grazing exclusion on soil organic carbon: Hillslope and soil profile results (an Australian example) - PubMed, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Effects of grazing exclusion on soil organic carbon: Hillslope and soil profile results (an Australian example) - PubMed, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Grazing Affects Soil Organic Carbon Stocks Directly and Indirectly Through Herbaceous Species Diversity in Sahelian Savanna Ecosystems - Agritrop, accessed August 5, 2025,

Grazing Affects Soil Organic Carbon Stocks Directly and Indirectly Through Herbaceous Species Diversity in Sahelian Savanna Ecosystems - Agritrop, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Grazing Affects Soil Organic Carbon Stocks Directly and Indirectly Through Herbaceous Species Diversity in Sahelian Savanna Ecosystems - Agritrop

Preview of Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review - PubMed, accessed August 5, 2025,

Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review - PubMed, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review - PubMed, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review - ResearchGate, accessed May 10, 2026

Preview of Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review, accessed August 5, 2025,

Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review

Preview of How does the loss of soil organic carbon exacerbate climate change? - Quora, accessed August 5, 2025,

How does the loss of soil organic carbon exacerbate climate change? - Quora, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Irrelevant GreyLiterature

How does the loss of soil organic carbon exacerbate climate change? - Quora, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of How should we manage our soils to increase soil carbon? - Soil Health Knowledgebase, accessed August 5, 2025,

How should we manage our soils to increase soil carbon? - Soil Health Knowledgebase, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia

Preview of HOW TO MEASURE AND INTERPRET RESULTS IN RELATION TO SOIL ORGANIC CARBON - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), accessed August 5, 2025,

HOW TO MEASURE AND INTERPRET RESULTS IN RELATION TO SOIL ORGANIC CARBON - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source Journal

(PDF) Soil organic carbon stocks in saline and sodic landscapes

Preview of Impacts of Rotational Grazing on Soil Carbon in Native Grass-Based ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Impacts of Rotational Grazing on Soil Carbon in Native Grass-Based ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services - Frontiers

Preview of Impacts of Rotational Grazing on Soil Carbon in Native Grass-Based Pastures in Southern Australia - PubMed Central, accessed August 5, 2025,

Impacts of Rotational Grazing on Soil Carbon in Native Grass-Based Pastures in Southern Australia - PubMed Central, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Impacts of Rotational Grazing on Soil Carbon in Native Grass-Based Pastures in Southern Australia - PubMed Central, accessed August 5, 2025,

Preview of Impacts of Rotational Grazing on Soil Carbon in Native Grass-Based Pastures in Southern Australia - PubMed, accessed August 5, 2025,

Impacts of Rotational Grazing on Soil Carbon in Native Grass-Based Pastures in Southern Australia - PubMed, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Impacts of Rotational Grazing on Soil Carbon in Native Grass-Based Pastures in Southern Australia - PubMed Central, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Impacts of Rotational Grazing on Soil Carbon in Native Grass-Based Pastures in Southern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Impacts of Rotational Grazing on Soil Carbon in Native Grass-Based Pastures in Southern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review - ResearchGate

Preview of Land-use and historical management effects on soil organic carbon in grazing systems on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Land-use and historical management effects on soil organic carbon in grazing systems on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Land-use and historical management effects on soil organic carbon in grazing systems on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Land-use and historical management effects on soil organic carbon in grazing systems on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Land-use and historical management effects on soil organic carbon in grazing systems on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Land-use and historical management effects on soil organic carbon in grazing systems on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Lucerne pastures and rotational grazing lift soil carbon levels | .Meat & Livestock Australia, accessed August 5, 2025,

Lucerne pastures and rotational grazing lift soil carbon levels | .Meat & Livestock Australia, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture - MLA, accessed August 5, 2025

$Preview of Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed August 5, 2025,$

Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Effect of fire and tree‐grass patches on soil nitrogen in Australian tropical savannas

$Preview of Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed July 6, 2025,$

Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed July 6, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Benefits and trade-offs of soil organic carbon sequestration - OAPEN Library

Preview of Potential responses of soil organic carbon to global environmental change - PNAS, accessed August 5, 2025,

Potential responses of soil organic carbon to global environmental change - PNAS, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Potential responses of soil organic carbon to global environmental change - PNAS, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,

Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed July 20, 2025,

Preview of Regenerative Grazing: A Compelling Climate Strategy, accessed August 5, 2025,

Regenerative Grazing: A Compelling Climate Strategy, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative Grazing: A Compelling Climate Strategy, accessed August 5, 2025,

Preview of Soil carbon - Department for Environment and Water, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil carbon - Department for Environment and Water, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil carbon - Department for Environment and Water, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Soil carbon and inferred net primary production in high- and low-intensity grazing systems on the New England Tableland, eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil carbon and inferred net primary production in high- and low-intensity grazing systems on the New England Tableland, eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil carbon and inferred net primary production in high- and low-intensity grazing systems on the New England Tableland, eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Soil carbon and inferred net primary production in high- and low-intensity grazing systems on the New England Tableland, eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil carbon and inferred net primary production in high- and low-intensity grazing systems on the New England Tableland, eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil organic matter in temperate forest-grassland systems: A case study from the Southern Cis-Ural, Russia - E3S Web of Conferences

Preview of Soil carbon monitoring and trends - Department for Environment and Water, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil carbon monitoring and trends - Department for Environment and Water, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Government

Soil carbon monitoring and trends - Department for Environment and Water

Preview of Soil Carbon Sequestration in Northern Grazing Lands - FutureBeef, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil Carbon Sequestration in Northern Grazing Lands - FutureBeef, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Carbon Sequestration in Northern Grazing Lands - FutureBeef

Preview of Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands a critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands a critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Irrelevant Journal

Managing cattle grazing intensity: effects on soil organic matter and soil nitrogen, accessed July 23, 2025

Preview of Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands: a critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands: a critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Irrelevant Journal

Synthesis of Australian Rangeland SOC Data from CSIRO, Peer-Reviewed Literature, and Government Reports

Preview of Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands: A critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands: A critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands: A critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - ResearchGate, accessed July 23, 2025

Preview of Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture - MLA, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture - MLA, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Coexistence of shrubs and grass in a semi-arid landscape: a case study of mulga (Acacia aneura, Mimosaceae) shrublands embedded in fire-prone spinifex (Triodia pungens, Poaceae) hummock grasslands - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany

Preview of Soil Carbon Snapshot - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil Carbon Snapshot - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Carbon Snapshot - Agriculture Victoria

Preview of Soil Organic Carbon - Southern Farming Systems, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil Organic Carbon - Southern Farming Systems, accessed August 5, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

The value of soil organic matter and how we can slow its decline under cropping systems: Data from 500 paired-site comparisons - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC)

Preview of Soil Organic Carbon as Response to Reforestation Age and Land Use Changes: A Qualitative Approach to Ecosystem Services - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil Organic Carbon as Response to Reforestation Age and Land Use Changes: A Qualitative Approach to Ecosystem Services - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Organic Carbon as Response to Reforestation Age and Land Use Changes: A Qualitative Approach to Ecosystem Services - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Soil Organic Carbon Benchmarks by Rainfall and Texture

Soil Organic Carbon Benchmarks by Rainfall and Texture

Direct Evidence Journal

Blunden et al. (2024). Fire regime impacts on soil microbes, soil organic carbon and ground cover in an Australian tropical savanna.

Preview of Soil organic matter and carbon sequestration in pastures - FutureBeef, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil organic matter and carbon sequestration in pastures - FutureBeef, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Sparling, G. P. (1992). Ratio of microbial biomass carbon to soil organic carbon as a sensitive indicator of changes in soil organic matter. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 30(2), 195-207.

Preview of Soils ain't soils - carbon farming offers fertile future - CSIRO, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soils ain't soils - carbon farming offers fertile future - CSIRO, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The Abundance of Microbial Functional Genes in Grassy Woodlands ..., accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of TEN WAYS - to build soil carbon - Local Land Services, accessed August 5, 2025,

TEN WAYS - to build soil carbon - Local Land Services, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

TEN WAYS - to build soil carbon - Local Land Services, accessed August 5, 2025,

Preview of The value of soil organic matter and how we can slow its decline under cropping systems: Data from 500 paired-site comparisons - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), accessed August 5, 2025,

The value of soil organic matter and how we can slow its decline under cropping systems: Data from 500 paired-site comparisons - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The value of soil organic matter and how we can slow its decline under cropping systems: Data from 500 paired-site comparisons - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Thinking about a soil carbon project? Understand soil data first ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Thinking about a soil carbon project? Understand soil data first ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Challenging claimed benefits of soil carbon sequestration for mitigating climate change and increasing crop yields: Heresy or sober realism? - PubMed Central, accessed July 7, 2025,

Understanding and quantifying whole soil-profile organic carbon transfer using an environmental tracer - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source Journal

Understanding and quantifying whole soil-profile organic carbon transfer using an environmental tracer - CSIRO Publishing

Preview of www.researchgate.net, accessed August 5, 2025,

www.researchgate.net, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

www.researchgate.net, accessed August 5, 2025

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 27 May 2026

Notes

Levels at the upper end of this range, from 3.0% to 4.0% and beyond, represent a high-quality, resilient state. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-LVG-SOC family.