Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-TSW-LVG-SOC General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

6 %

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 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 MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard CompositeFramework Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard CompositeFramework Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The benchmark of 6.0% SOC in the 0–10 cm layer, derived from a high-functioning pasture system, is presented as an aspirational target.

Metric Definition:

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) concentration in the 0–10 cm soil layer

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents an aspirational target for Soil Organic Carbon concentration in the top 0–10 cm of soil under best-practice livestock grazing in the Australian semi-arid biome.

Justification:

Derived from a well-managed, long-term pasture system study in a higher-rainfall temperate zone, serving as an aspirational target for the Australian semi-arid biome.

Sources (1)

Soil carbon changes after establishing woodland and agroforestry trees in a grazed pasture Journal

Soil carbon changes after establishing woodland and agroforestry trees in a grazed pasture

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Soil Carbon Sequestration in Northern Grazing Lands - FutureBeef, accessed August 5, 2025,

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Soil Carbon Sequestration in Northern Grazing Lands - FutureBeef

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 5 Jun 2026

Notes

This benchmark is aspirational and likely achievable only in the most favourable parts of the biome. No detrimental upper threshold exists; the upper limit is governed by natural soil carbon saturation capacity. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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