Soil Nitrogen

AUS-TGP-FOR-SON General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 500 to 1000 mg/kg

Optimal Range: 500 to 1000

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

For a production forestry system on a loamy sand soil, an optimal range for total soil nitrogen in the top 0-15 cm would be 500 – 1000 mg/kg.

Metric Definition:

Optimal functional range of total soil nitrogen concentration in topsoil (0-15 cm)

Benchmark Definition:

Range representing a safe operating space for soil nitrogen to support tree growth and maintain native understorey

Justification:

Expert-derived range centered on the benchmark to balance production and ecological health.

Sources (1)

Elevated carbon dioxide increases soil nitrogen and phosphorus availability in a phosphorus-limited Eucalyptus woodland Journal

Elevated carbon dioxide increases soil nitrogen and phosphorus availability in a phosphorus-limited Eucalyptus woodland

View Source

Supporting Sources (4)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Chapter 9 AUSTRALIAN GRASSLANDS - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Karst and agriculture in Australia - Digital Commons @ USF, accessed July 26, 2025,

View Source

Preview of EFFECTS OF INTENSIFIED HARVESTING ON RATES OF NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL FROM PINUS RADIATA AND EUCALYPTUS FORESTS IN AUSTR - Scion Research

EFFECTS OF INTENSIFIED HARVESTING ON RATES OF NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL FROM PINUS RADIATA AND EUCALYPTUS FORESTS IN AUSTR - Scion Research

Direct Evidence Journal

EFFECTS OF INTENSIFIED HARVESTING ON RATES OF NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL FROM PINUS RADIATA AND EUCALYPTUS FORESTS IN AUSTR - Scion Research

View Source

Soil management guides - NSW Department of Primary Industries

Direct Evidence Journal

Soil management guides - NSW Department of Primary Industries

View Source

Temperate Grasslands - Greening Australia, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Managing natural areas | City of Gold Coast, accessed May 19, 2025

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Production Forestry
Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 24 Mar 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Range avoids both nitrogen depletion and excess, supporting sustainable management.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-FOR-SON family.