Soil Nitrogen — Benchmark Detail

Benchmark Value

400 mg/kg

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: Point

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is Point, 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

Point Primary MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

For inherently low-fertility Sandy soils, a benchmark of 400 mg/kg is identified, representing a functional level in these constrained environments.

Metric Definition:

Total Soil Nitrogen (TSN) concentration in the topsoil (0-10 cm)

Benchmark Definition:

Total Soil Nitrogen concentration representing best available condition in sandy soils under agricultural crop production.

Justification:

Based on the lower-end of measured range from 35 grower fields in low-rainfall SA/Vic on sandy soils under various practices.

Sources (2)

Preview of Opportunities for improving soil carbon and nitrogen stocks in low and medium rainfall cropping systems - GRDC, accessed July 6, 2025,

Opportunities for improving soil carbon and nitrogen stocks in low and medium rainfall cropping systems - GRDC, accessed July 6, 2025, Government

Soil health stocktake Queensland - GRDC

View Source

Strategic tillage of a long-term, no-till soil has little impact on soil characteristics or crop growth over five years Journal

Strategic tillage of a long-term, no-till soil has little impact on soil characteristics or crop growth over five years

View Source

Context

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

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 5 Jun 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. The Lower Critical Threshold is a state of negative nitrogen balance indicated by TSN levels below ~400 mg/kg for sandy soils. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSW-AGR-SON family.