Soil Nitrogen

AUS-AMR-LVG-SON General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

1600 mg/kg
Range: 1400 to 1600 mg/kg
Thresholds: Lower: 300, Upper: 2000
Optimal Range: 1400 to 1600
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: Point

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

Based on the strongest available evidence, the following benchmark is proposed for topsoil (0-10 cm) under high-health, sustainable livestock grazing. Reference Value: 1600 mg/kg.

Metric Definition:

Total soil nitrogen concentration in the top 0-10 cm of soil under best-practice livestock grazing management in Australia's Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands biome.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the total soil nitrogen concentration in the top 10 cm of soil under high-health, sustainable livestock grazing in Australia's Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands biome. It reflects a best-on-offer condition achieved through long-term regenerative grazing management.

Justification:

This value is derived from the Site R4 treatment in the Allen et al. (2022) study. It is selected as the "best-on-offer" benchmark for several key reasons: Management-Driven Outcome: It is the direct result of a long-term (~20 years) application of documented best-practice regenerative grazing. Demonstrated Ecological Health: The site exhibited statistically significant improvements in vegetation biomass and basal area, linking the soil N value to broader ecosystem health. Superior to Passive Recovery: The TN value of 1600 mg/kg exceeds the 1400 mg/kg measured in the adjacent 30-year grazing exclosure, demonstrating that active, well-managed grazing can achieve a higher functional state than destocking alone. Represents Potential: It represents a tangible, achievable target for ecological restoration on similar soil types, doubling the N stock compared to the conventionally grazed control site (800 mg/kg).

Sources (1)

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.
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. Journal

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

View Source

Supporting Sources (32)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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(PDF) Managing cattle grazing intensity: effects on soil organic ...
Contextual Support Journal

What are the optimum nutrient targets for pastures? - Soil Health Knowledgebase, accessed May 11, 2025

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Preview of (PDF) Mineral Nutrition of Plants in Australia's Arid Zone - ResearchGate, accessed July 13, 2025
(PDF) Mineral Nutrition of Plants in Australia's Arid Zone - ResearchGate, accessed July 13, 2025
Contextual Support

(PDF) Mineral Nutrition of Plants in Australia's Arid Zone - ResearchGate

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Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed July 28, 2025,

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Australia - Soils
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Australia - Soils

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Australia - Soils, Climate, Erosion | Britannica
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SOIL TESTING, accessed August 1, 2025

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Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Northern and Yorke | Soil management - Landscape South Australia, accessed July 28, 2025

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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 Journal

Root Structure and Functioning for Efficient Acquisition of Phosphorus: Matching Morphological and Physiological Traits

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Bioregions and EVC benchmarks - Environment, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Eastern NSW Plant Community Type Percentage Cleared Calculation Technical Notes - Environment and Heritage

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Preview of Can simple, on-ground vegetation and soil measures reliably indicate the health of rangelands? An application in Australia's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 30, 2025
Can simple, on-ground vegetation and soil measures reliably indicate the health of rangelands? An application in Australia's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

on-ground vegetation and soil measures reliably indicate the health of rangelands? An application in Australia's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing

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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

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.

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Preview of Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on vegetation dynamics of a degraded native grassland in semi-arid south-eastern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 13, 2025,
Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on vegetation dynamics of a degraded native grassland in semi-arid south-eastern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 13, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Grassland soil carbon and nitrogen stocks under temperate ..., accessed August 4, 2025,

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Preview of Find out the Different Types of Soil in Australia - Kelly Tillage AUS, accessed July 6, 2025,
Find out the Different Types of Soil in Australia - Kelly Tillage AUS, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

ASC - TENOSOLS - Soil Science Australia

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Flinders Lofty Block - Grasslands
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Flinders Lofty Block - Grasslands

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Flinders Lofty Block bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 29, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

MacDonnell Ranges bioregion - DCCEEW

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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 Journal

Impacts of Rotational Grazing on Soil Carbon in Native Grass-Based Pastures in Southern Australia | PLOS One - Research journals

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Preview of Iron-grass Natural Temperate Grassland of South Australia - Wikipedia
Iron-grass Natural Temperate Grassland of South Australia - Wikipedia
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Iron-grass Natural Temperate Grassland of South Australia - Wikipedia

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Preview of Journal on Protected Mountain Areas Research and Management
Journal on Protected Mountain Areas Research and Management
Contextual Support Journal

Development of a new piosphere in arid chenopod shrubland grazed by sheep. I. Changes to the soil surface. - ResearchGate

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Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

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MacDonnell Ranges - Wikipedia
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MacDonnell Ranges Geology - SciArt
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Mapping and describing your natural resources - MBFP-Pastoral, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

soils and landscapes of mulga lands with special reference to south western queensland, accessed August 28, 2025,

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Preview of Piosphere Syndrome and Rangeland Degradation in Karamoja Sub-region
Piosphere Syndrome and Rangeland Degradation in Karamoja Sub-region
Contextual Support

Piosphere Syndrome and Rangeland Degradation in Karamoja Sub-region

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Rangeland condition: its meaning and use - a discussion paper - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

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Regenerative Agriculture - a literature review on the practices and mechanisms used to improve soil health - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support

Regenerative Land Management - HEALTHY SOILS AUSTRALIA

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Preview of Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 25, 2025
Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 25, 2025
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Preview of Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 25, 2025,
Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 25, 2025,
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Preview of Regenerative Agriculture Australia: Benefits and Practices - SONIC Natural Farming
Regenerative Agriculture Australia: Benefits and Practices - SONIC Natural Farming
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Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from, accessed July 28, 2025,

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Preview of Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021
Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021
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1966 - Australian Bureau of Statistics

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Preview of Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 3, 2025,
Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support

The effects of clipping frequency and nitrogen fertilisation on greenhouse gas emissions and net ecosystem exchange in an Australian temperate grassland - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal

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Preview of Soil Constraints in an Arid Environment—Challenges, Prospects, and Implications - MDPI, accessed July 6, 2025,
Soil Constraints in an Arid Environment—Challenges, Prospects, and Implications - MDPI, accessed July 6, 2025,
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Preview of Soil Nitrogen Supply | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 25, 2025,
Soil Nitrogen Supply | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Soil Nitrogen Supply | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed May 11, 2025,

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Preview of Three types of piosphere responses of vegetation with distance from... | Download Scientific Diagram - ResearchGate
Three types of piosphere responses of vegetation with distance from... | Download Scientific Diagram - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

Three types of piosphere responses of vegetation with distance from... | Download Scientific Diagram - ResearchGate

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 24 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 300 mg/kg. Upper Detrimental Threshold: 2000 mg/kg. Optimal Range: 1400–1600 mg/kg. This benchmark is supported by evidence of improved vegetation health and exceeds levels found in passive recovery grazing exclosures.