Soil Nitrogen

AUS-AIF-FOR-SON General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 800 to 1500 mg/kg
Optimal Range: 800 to 1500
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

An optimal functional range is proposed between 800 and 1500 mg/kg, reflecting the natural variability of a healthy, resilient system.

Metric Definition:

Total Soil Nitrogen concentration in the topsoil (0–30 cm)

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the optimal functional range of total soil nitrogen concentration in the top 30 cm of soil that reflects a healthy and resilient ecosystem in production forestry within the Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems biome.

Justification:

This range accommodates the natural spatial and temporal variability of the ecosystem while remaining below levels that could trigger negative consequences.

Sources (1)

Preview of Changes in soil carbon and nitrogen stocks following tree clearing were estimated at 32 rangeland sites in central and southern Queensland
Changes in soil carbon and nitrogen stocks following tree clearing were estimated at 32 rangeland sites in central and southern Queensland Journal

Changes in soil carbon and nitrogen stocks following tree clearing were estimated at 32 rangeland sites in central and southern Queensland

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • 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. Represents a healthy, stable native ecosystem with high resilience and the capacity to support sustainable production while maintaining biodiversity.

Related Benchmarks

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

1000 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Active v1
500 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
MinimumOnly Active v1
2000 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
MaximumOnly Active v1