Soil Nitrogen

AUS-TDG-LVG-SON General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

3500 mg/kg
Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 3500
Direction: Lower 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 13 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 12 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

an upper detrimental threshold for total soil nitrogen is considered to be > 3000 - 3500 mg/kg (0-10 cm)

Metric Definition:

Upper detrimental threshold of total soil nitrogen concentration in the top 0-10 cm soil layer beyond which ecological harm occurs

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the upper detrimental threshold of total soil nitrogen concentration in the top 0-10 cm soil layer beyond which ecological harm occurs in temperate dry woodlands and native grasslands under livestock grazing and pasture.

Justification:

Levels exceeding this range significantly increase the risk of exotic species invasion, nutrient imbalances, nitrate leaching, and soil acidification.

Sources (1)

Preview of (PDF) Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025
(PDF) Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025 Journal

Fertilisers and the environment - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed May 11, 2025

View Source

Supporting Sources (16)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Competition for Nitrogen between Australian Native Grasses ..., accessed May 11, 2025
(PDF) Competition for Nitrogen between Australian Native Grasses ..., accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Competition for Nitrogen between Australian Native Grasses ..., accessed May 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of (PDF) Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation ..., accessed May 11, 2025
(PDF) Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation ..., accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation ..., accessed May 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of (PDF) Managing cattle grazing intensity: effects on soil organic ...
(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

View Source
Preview of (PDF) Soil carbon and inferred net primary production in high- and ..., accessed May 11, 2025
(PDF) Soil carbon and inferred net primary production in high- and ..., accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Soil carbon and inferred net primary production in high- and ..., accessed May 11, 2025

View Source
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

View Source
Preview of Environmental impact of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilisers in high rainfall areas of Western Australia - Department of Agriculture and Food, accessed May 11, 2025
Environmental impact of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilisers in high rainfall areas of Western Australia - Department of Agriculture and Food, accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support

Environmental impact of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilisers in high rainfall areas of Western Australia - Department of Agriculture and Food, accessed May 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of Grazing-management-for-soil-carbon-in-Australia-A-review.pdf - University of Tasmania, accessed on June 7, 2025,
Grazing-management-for-soil-carbon-in-Australia-A-review.pdf - University of Tasmania, accessed on June 7, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

www.utas.edu.au

View Source
Preview of Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,
Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states - ResearchGate, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Managing competitive interactions to promote ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 11, 2025
Managing competitive interactions to promote ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Crop and Pasture Science - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed May 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands: a nationally protected ecological community - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands: a nationally protected ecological community - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Australia's Native Vegetation Framework - DAFF

View Source
Preview of Nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen balance in Australian farmlands - Agronomy Australia Proceedings, accessed May 11, 2025
Nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen balance in Australian farmlands - Agronomy Australia Proceedings, accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Letnic, M. (2019). What are native grasslands, and why do they matter? UNSW Newsroom.

View Source
Preview of Regenerative Farming | Solis for Life - Cell Squared, accessed May 11, 2025
Regenerative Farming | Solis for Life - Cell Squared, accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative Farming | Solis for Life - Cell Squared, accessed May 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of Review of C:N Ratios in Vegetation, Litter and Soil Under Australian Native Forests and Plantations - DCCEEW
Review of C:N Ratios in Vegetation, Litter and Soil Under Australian Native Forests and Plantations - DCCEEW
Contextual Support Journal

Review of C:N Ratios in Vegetation, Litter and Soil ... - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Nitrogen (3" resolution) - Release 2 - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed August 5, 2025,
Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Nitrogen (3" resolution) - Release 2 - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Geology | Norfolk Island National Park | Parks Australia, accessed August 2, 2025

View Source
Preview of The Abundance of Microbial Functional Genes in Grassy Woodlands ..., accessed August 5, 2025,
The Abundance of Microbial Functional Genes in Grassy Woodlands ..., accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of What are the optimum nutrient targets for pastures? - Soil Health Knowledgebase, accessed August 5, 2025,
What are the optimum nutrient targets for pastures? - Soil Health Knowledgebase, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Scanlan, C. A., et al. (2013). Soil Quality: 10 Plant Nutrition. CCMA Soil Health Knowledge Base.

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

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

Notes

This threshold is based on evidence linking high total N levels to ecological degradation in temperate woodland and grassland systems.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TDG-LVG-SON family.

— mg/kg Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1