Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-TSW-LVG-SOC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

1 %
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 Lower Critical Threshold is identified at <1.0% SOC, below which critical ecosystem functions are compromised.

Metric Definition:

Lower critical threshold of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) concentration in the 0–10 cm soil layer below which ecosystem functions degrade

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the minimum Soil Organic Carbon concentration below which soil functions are impaired and degradation risk increases in the Australian semi-arid biome under livestock grazing.

Justification:

Based on broad surveys of Australian agricultural soils indicating SOC below 1.0% is indicative of degradation.

Sources (1)

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

Soil Carbon Sequestration in Northern Grazing Lands - FutureBeef

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Soil carbon changes after establishing woodland and agroforestry trees in a grazed pasture
Soil carbon changes after establishing woodland and agroforestry trees in a grazed pasture
Contextual Support Journal

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

View Source

Context

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

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Below this threshold, soil structural stability, water infiltration, nutrient cycling, and pasture resilience are significantly compromised. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.