Soil Nitrogen — Benchmark Detail

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 400 to 1600 mg/kg

Optimal Range: 400 to 1600

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.

Evidence & Context

The primary benchmark for sandy and sandy-loam soils, derived from multi-site field data of well-managed farms, is a range of 400 to 1600 mg/kg.

Metric Definition:

Total soil nitrogen content in the top 10 cm of sandy and sandy-loam soils under best-practice sustainable or regenerative agricultural management.

Benchmark Definition:

Total soil nitrogen content as a benchmark for high environmental health in sandy and sandy-loam soils.

Justification:

Derived from multi-site field data of well-managed farms representing the best available condition achievable in these managed agroecosystems.

Sources (1)

Preview of Regenerative opportunities for building soil biological resilience – a ..., accessed May 11, 2025

Regenerative opportunities for building soil biological resilience – a ..., accessed May 11, 2025 GreyLiterature

Soil and fertilizer phosphorus: Effects on plant P supply and mycorrhizal development - Canadian Science Publishing, accessed August 28, 2025

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Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of A review of sampling designs for the measurement of soil organic carbon in Australian grazing lands - Integrity Systems, accessed July 27, 2025,

A review of sampling designs for the measurement of soil organic carbon in Australian grazing lands - Integrity Systems, accessed July 27, 2025,

Direct Evidence Government

Total nitrogen levels as a key constraint on soil organic carbon ...

View Source

Soil Nitrogen Supply | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Soil Nitrogen Supply | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed May 11, 2025,

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Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Shrublands & Stony Plains
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 24 Mar 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. This range reflects a balance between building a sufficient organic nitrogen pool and managing the high intrinsic risk of nitrate leaching in sandy soils.

Related Benchmarks

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