Soil Nitrogen
Benchmark Value
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 13 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 12 guard(s) constrain the result.
Evidence & Context
The Kirkpatrick et al. (2014) study found that Total Nitrogen in the top 5 cm of Australian alpine soils ranged from 0.3% to 1.2%.14 This is equivalent to a range of 3,000 to 12,000 mg/kg.
Total Nitrogen content in the top 5 cm of soil in Australian alpine soils.
Total Nitrogen content in the top 5 cm of soil in Australian alpine soils represents the natural variation in healthy, high-organic matter Alpine Humus Soils, with higher values indicating greater accumulation of stable organic matter.
This range for Total Nitrogen (0.3–1.2%) is from the most comprehensive survey of Australian alpine soils (Kirkpatrick et al., 2014, n=219), representing the natural variation in healthy, high-organic matter Alpine Humus Soils. In this N-conservative system, higher values within this range indicate greater accumulation of stable organic matter, representing the best available ecological condition.
Sources (1)
Patterns of variation in Australian alpine soils and their relationships to parent material, vegetation formation, climate and topography | Request PDF - ResearchGate
View SourceSupporting Sources (3)
Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.
Beringer, J., et al. 2022. Carbon and water fluxes over a temperate Eucalyptus forest and a tropical wet/dry savanna in Australia. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 129(3):151-173.
View SourceImpact of atmospheric Nitrogen deposition on upland and alpine ecosystems
View SourceSTATEMENTS OF UNACCEPTABILITY OF GRAZING IN THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS
View Source