Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TGP-AGR-WEC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

800 µS/cm

Range: 400 to 800 µS/cm

Optimal Range: 400 to 800

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: MaximumOnly

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 15 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 14 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard UpperThreshold Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Reference Value: An EC of < 800 µS/cm is proposed as the benchmark for the best available condition.

Metric Definition:

Water Electrical Conductivity (EC) in surface water for agricultural crop production in temperate grassy woodlands & plains.

Benchmark Definition:

Benchmark for surface water EC representing best available condition in sustainable agricultural crop production.

Justification:

This benchmark balances ecological health with agronomic sustainability, set well below the Upper Detrimental Threshold of ~1500 µS/cm and above the Lower Critical Threshold of ~400 µS/cm.

Sources (1)

Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia

View Source

Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 28, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - CSIRO Publishing

View Source

Salinity - Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed August 11, 2025,

Direct Evidence Government

Basin Plan water quality targets; Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZG 2018/ANZECC 2000); Australia State of the Environment 2021: Inland water

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 24 Mar 2026

Notes

The optimal range is defined as 400–800 µS/cm, avoiding hazards at both hypo-saline and hyper-saline extremes, representing a realistic target for regenerative cropping systems. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-AGR-WEC family.