Soil Nitrogen

AUS-AIF-LVG-SON General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

2000 mg/kg
Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 2000
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: MaximumOnly

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.

Evidence & Context

Values significantly above the optimal range (e.g., >2000 mg/kg) may indicate nutrient concentration and imbalance (high N:P ratio), increasing the risk of weed invasion and representing a degraded state rather than high health.

Metric Definition:

Upper detrimental threshold of Total Soil Nitrogen concentration indicating ecological imbalance and risk of degradation.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the upper detrimental threshold of soil nitrogen concentration above which ecological imbalance and degradation risk increase in arid inland floodplains and ephemeral river systems under livestock grazing and pasture.

Justification:

Inferred from ecological context of high N:P ratio favoring invasive nitrophilic weeds and nutrient concentration in patches.

Sources (1)

Preview of Channel Country bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 21, 2025
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

Not a toxicity threshold but an ecological tipping point signaling degradation risk.