Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-AMR-FOR-SOC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.5 %
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: MinimumOnly

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 6 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 5 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

An SOC level of approximately 0.5% is considered a critical lower limit, below which soil function, ecosystem resilience, and long-term productivity are severely compromised.

Metric Definition:

Critical lower threshold of Soil Organic Carbon concentration below which essential soil functions are compromised in Australian arid forestry systems.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the critical lower soil organic carbon concentration below which soil function and ecosystem resilience are severely impaired in arid production forestry soils.

Justification:

Based on evidence from degraded bare land SOC levels and functional impairment of soil processes below this value.

Sources (1)

Preview of (PDF) Drivers of soil organic carbon storage and vertical distribution in Eastern Australia, accessed July 22, 2025,
(PDF) Drivers of soil organic carbon storage and vertical distribution in Eastern Australia, accessed July 22, 2025, Government

Soil respiration–driven CO2 pulses dominate Australia's flux variability

View Source

Supporting Sources (18)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of A review of sampling designs for the measurement of soil organic carbon in Australian grazing lands - Integrity Systems, accessed July 27, 2025,
A review of sampling designs for the measurement of soil organic carbon in Australian grazing lands - Integrity Systems, accessed July 27, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Total nitrogen levels as a key constraint on soil organic carbon ...

View Source
Preview of ABARES report reaffirms sustainability, sovereign capability and climate credentials of Australian native forestry, accessed August 10, 2025,
ABARES report reaffirms sustainability, sovereign capability and climate credentials of Australian native forestry, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Review of fertiliser use in Australian forestry - Forest & Wood Products Australia

View Source
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,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Organic Matter and Carbon Sequestration

View Source
Preview of Coarse woody debris reduces the rate of moisture loss from surface soils of cleared temperate Australian woodlands - CSIRO Publishing
Coarse woody debris reduces the rate of moisture loss from surface soils of cleared temperate Australian woodlands - CSIRO Publishing
Contextual Support Journal

Coarse woody debris reduces the rate of moisture loss from surface soils of cleared temperate Australian woodlands - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Effects of afforestation on soil organic carbon and other soil properties - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025
Effects of afforestation on soil organic carbon and other soil properties - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Case Study - Soil carbon benefits through reforestation, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Environmental drivers of soil organic carbon in the Australian rangelands - Bohrium, accessed July 26, 2025
Environmental drivers of soil organic carbon in the Australian rangelands - Bohrium, accessed July 26, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Environmental drivers of soil organic carbon in the Australian rangelands - Bohrium, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of How much organic carbon could the soil store? The carbon sequestration potential of Australian soil - Rothamsted Repository, accessed July 30, 2025
How much organic carbon could the soil store? The carbon sequestration potential of Australian soil - Rothamsted Repository, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support

How much organic carbon could the soil store? The carbon sequestration potential of Australian soil - Rothamsted Repository, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Influence of forest management activities on soil organic carbon stocks_ A knowledge synthesis - Agritrop
Influence of forest management activities on soil organic carbon stocks_ A knowledge synthesis - Agritrop
Contextual Support Journal

Full article: A review of the impacts of sustainable harvesting, non-harvest management and wildfire on net carbon emissions from Australian native forests - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Interesting reading - Healthy Forests Foundation, accessed July 25, 2025,
Interesting reading - Healthy Forests Foundation, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support

ABARES report reaffirms sustainability, sovereign capability and climate credentials of Australian native forestry, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed July 30, 2025
Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Total soil organic matter and its labile pools following mulga (Acacia aneura) clearing for pasture development and cropping 1. Total and labile carbon - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Report card on sustainable natural resource use in the rangelands, accessed July 30, 2025
Report card on sustainable natural resource use in the rangelands, accessed July 30, 2025
Methodology Source Journal

Report card on sustainable natural resource use in the rangelands, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil – the driver of carbon dioxide variability over Australia, accessed July 28, 2025
Soil – the driver of carbon dioxide variability over Australia, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Bulk density of soil at the woodland and plantation in March 2008 at Castlereagh, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Organic Carbon (1" resolution) - Release 1 - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed July 30, 2025
Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Organic Carbon (1" resolution) - Release 1 - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed July 30, 2025
Direct Evidence Government

Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Organic Carbon (1" resolution) - Release 1 - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil bulk density (g cm-3 ), down the soil profile, in undisturbed... - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025
Soil bulk density (g cm-3 ), down the soil profile, in undisturbed... - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil bulk density (g cm-3 ), down the soil profile, in undisturbed... - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
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

View Source
Preview of Soil Organic Carbon Thresholds and Nitrogen Management in Tropical Agroecosystems: Concepts and Prospects - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025,
Soil Organic Carbon Thresholds and Nitrogen Management in Tropical Agroecosystems: Concepts and Prospects - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Organic Carbon Thresholds and Nitrogen Management in Tropical Agroecosystems: Concepts and Prospects - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Tamm Review: Influence of forest management activities on soil organic carbon stocks: A knowledge synthesis - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025
Tamm Review: Influence of forest management activities on soil organic carbon stocks: A knowledge synthesis - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Tamm Review: Influence of forest management activities on soil organic carbon stocks: A knowledge synthesis - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of TERN. TERN – Australia's Ecosystem Observatory Network, highlights for 2018-2023.
TERN. TERN – Australia's Ecosystem Observatory Network, highlights for 2018-2023.
Contextual Support Government

Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation BASE Contextual, Soil ..., accessed July 20, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 4 Jun 2026

Notes

Represents a severe degradation state with impaired soil water retention, nutrient supply, and structure. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AMR-FOR-SOC family.

1.2 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Not Stated
Point Active v1