Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-TSW-AGR-SOC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.9 %
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: MinimumOnly

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.

Evidence & Context

A critical threshold of <0.9% SOC (0-10 cm) is identified, below which soil function is significantly compromised, particularly in low-rainfall cropping zones.

Metric Definition:

Critical lower threshold of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) in the 0-10 cm soil layer below which soil function is significantly compromised.

Benchmark Definition:

Lower critical threshold for SOC indicating impaired soil function.

Justification:

Below this threshold, soil function such as nutrient supply, water infiltration, and structural stability are significantly compromised.

Sources (1)

Preview of Thinking about a soil carbon project? Understand soil data first ...
Thinking about a soil carbon project? Understand soil data first ... GreyLiterature

Thinking about a soil carbon project? Understand soil data first ..., accessed July 7, 2025,

View Source

Supporting Sources (4)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Can soil organic matter be increased in a continuous cropping system in the low to medium rainfall zone? | Birchip Cropping Group
Can soil organic matter be increased in a continuous cropping system in the low to medium rainfall zone? | Birchip Cropping Group
Contextual Support

(PDF) Soil carbon dynamics under different cropping and pasture management in temperate Australia: Results of three long-term experiments - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Organic Carbon Storage - WA | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 6, 2025,
Organic Carbon Storage - WA | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Organic Carbon Storage - WA | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 7, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil Carbon Saturation: What Do We Really Know? - PMC - PubMed Central
Soil Carbon Saturation: What Do We Really Know? - PMC - PubMed Central
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Carbon Saturation: What Do We Really Know? - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 7, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Thinking about a soil carbon project? Understand soil data first ..., accessed August 5, 2025,
Thinking about a soil carbon project? Understand soil data first ..., accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Challenging claimed benefits of soil carbon sequestration for mitigating climate change and increasing crop yields: Heresy or sober realism? - PubMed Central, accessed July 7, 2025,

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 5 Jun 2026

Notes

For plains cropping on sandier soils, threshold can be as low as 0.66%. A critical threshold range of 0.7% to 0.9% SOC is scientifically defensible for this system. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.