Soil Nitrogen

AUS-AIF-LVG-SON General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

600 mg/kg

Thresholds: Lower: 600, Upper: —

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: MinimumOnly

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 13 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 12 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Function is likely compromised below 600 mg/kg, a level associated with degraded sites and loss of perennial cover.

Metric Definition:

Lower critical threshold of Total Soil Nitrogen concentration below which ecosystem function is compromised.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the lower critical threshold of soil nitrogen below which ecosystem function is likely compromised in arid inland floodplains and ephemeral river systems under livestock grazing and pasture.

Justification:

Based on studies showing degraded sites with loss of perennial grasses and soil stability had mean Total N of 560 mg/kg, suggesting 600 mg/kg as a threshold.

Sources (1)

Channel Country bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 21, 2025 Journal

Channel Country bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 21, 2025

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 24 Mar 2026

Notes

Represents a tipping point towards a persistent degraded state.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AIF-LVG-SON family.