Soil pH — Benchmark Detail

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 5 to 6.5 pH

Optimal Range: 5 to 6.5

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. The scoring engine uses 19 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 18 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

Based on these lines of evidence, the proposed optimal soil pH(CaCl₂) range for Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands under sustainable grazing is 5.0 – 6.5.

Metric Definition:

Optimal soil pH range supporting ecosystem health and sustainability.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the optimal soil pH range that supports high native biodiversity and ecosystem resilience in temperate dry woodlands and native grasslands under sustainable grazing.

Justification:

This range supports nutrient availability, microbial activity, and native flora adapted to moderately acidic soils.

Sources (2)

Agriculture Victoria. (2024). Soil acidity.

Soil acidity | Soil | Farm management - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source

Preview of Prober, S. M., Lunt, I. D., & Thiele, K. R. (2002). Determining reference conditions for management and restoration of temperate grassy woodlands: relationships among trees, topsoils and understorey flora in little-grazed remnants. Australian Journal of Botany, 50(6), 687–697.

Prober, S. M., Lunt, I. D., & Thiele, K. R. (2002). Determining reference conditions for management and restoration of temperate grassy woodlands: relationships among trees, topsoils and understorey flora in little-grazed remnants. Australian Journal of Botany, 50(6), 687–697. Journal

View Source

Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Government of South Australia, Department for Environment and Water. (n.d.). Soil Health and Condition.

Contextual Support Government

Soil acidity - Department for Environment and Water, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source

Soil Quality Knowledge Base. (n.d.). Soil pH.

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Working with bio-amendments: Insights from cropping farmers - Soils For Life, accessed July 7, 2025,

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
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. The range encompasses observed values in high-quality reference sites and avoids extreme acidity.

Related Benchmarks

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