Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-TSW-FOR-SOC General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 1 to 1.2 %
Optimal Range: 1 to 1.2
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 2 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.

Evidence & Context

The derived benchmark for a high-health state on loamy soils is an SOC concentration of 1.0% to 1.2% in the top 0–10 cm.

Metric Definition:

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) concentration in the 0–10 cm soil layer representing the best available condition for high ecological health in loamy soils within the biome.

Benchmark Definition:

SOC concentration representing the best available condition for high ecological health in loamy soils of the biome.

Justification:

Derived by inference from a well-managed, low-intensity grazing system in a NSW semi-arid woodland, supported by studies linking higher SOC to high perennial plant cover, a key indicator of ecosystem health.

Sources (1)

Preview of Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,
Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025, Journal

Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review - ResearchGate, accessed May 10, 2026

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Supporting Sources (3)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Australia's forests – overview - DAFF, accessed August 5, 2025,
Australia's forests – overview - DAFF, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Eastern Australian Temperate Forests | One Earth, accessed April 29, 2025,

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Preview of How Much Carbon Can Soil Store - NSW | Fact Sheets | soilquality ...
How Much Carbon Can Soil Store - NSW | Fact Sheets | soilquality ...
Contextual Support Government

How Much Carbon Can Soil Store - NSW | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au

View Source
Preview of Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands: a critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,
Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands: a critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Synthesis of Australian Rangeland SOC Data from CSIRO, Peer-Reviewed Literature, and Government Reports

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Vegetation Woodland
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 1 %; No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. The benchmark is specific to loamy soils with some clay content facilitating carbon stabilization. For sandy soils, the achievable SOC is inherently lower, often less than 1.0%.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSW-FOR-SOC family.