Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-TCF-AGR-SOC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 3 to 5 %
Optimal Range: 3 to 5
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

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

Evidence & Context

Achievable targets for SOC in the Goulburn Broken Catchment in Victoria have been suggested as 3-5% for perennial pastures and 2-4% for cropping soils.

Metric Definition:

Suggested achievable target range for SOC in agricultural soils.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the target soil organic carbon range for perennial pastures in agricultural crop production within the Temperate Coastal Forests & Woodlands biome.

Justification:

These targets are suggested achievable SOC levels for sustainable management.

Sources (1)

Preview of ON THE FARM - THE GOOD DIRT - Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority
ON THE FARM - THE GOOD DIRT - Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority

ON THE FARM - THE GOOD DIRT - Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority

View Source

Supporting Sources (6)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Assessment of soil carbon stores at the farm scale in Tasmania, Australia - IUSS.org
Assessment of soil carbon stores at the farm scale in Tasmania, Australia - IUSS.org
Direct Evidence Journal

Assessment of soil carbon stores at the farm scale in Tasmania, Australia - IUSS.org

View Source
Preview of Carbon stocks in Tasmanian soils - ResearchGate
Carbon stocks in Tasmanian soils - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

Carbon stocks in Tasmanian soils - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of cdn.environment.sa.gov.au
cdn.environment.sa.gov.au
Direct Evidence Journal

cdn.environment.sa.gov.au

View Source
Preview of Land use and management influences on surface soil organic carbon in Tasmania
Land use and management influences on surface soil organic carbon in Tasmania
Direct Evidence

Land use and management influences on surface soil organic carbon in Tasmania

View Source
Preview of Soil health indicators for monitoring forest ecological restoration: a critical review | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed on June 7, 2025,
Soil health indicators for monitoring forest ecological restoration: a critical review | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed on June 7, 2025,
Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Australia's State of the Forests Report - updated indicators - DAFF

View Source
Preview of Soil health: the foundation of sustainable agriculture - 2001 workshop proceedings - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 25, 2025,
Soil health: the foundation of sustainable agriculture - 2001 workshop proceedings - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 25, 2025,
Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Soil health: the foundation of sustainable agriculture - 2001 workshop proceedings - NSW Department of Primary Industries

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Coastal Forests & Woodlands
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 5 Jun 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Represents a target range for SOC to support soil health in perennial pastures.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TCF-AGR-SOC family.

5.68 % Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Pristine Reference
Point Active v1
1.16 % Low
Agricultural Crop Production · Not Stated
Point Active v1
1.14 % Low
Agricultural Crop Production · Not Stated
Point Active v1
— % Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Conservation Target
OptimalRange Active v1