Soil Nitrogen — Benchmark Detail

Benchmark Value

7400 mg/kg

Range: 4800 to 1E+04 mg/kg

Optimal Range: 4800 to 1E+04

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: Point

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 2 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard

Evidence & Context

The primary benchmark for Total Nitrogen in a best-on-offer conservation context, derived from remnant subtropical rainforest on ferrosol soils, is a mean of 7,400 mg/kg.

Metric Definition:

Total Soil Nitrogen (TN) concentration in the top 0-15 cm of soil in remnant subtropical rainforest on ferrosol soils.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the typical Total Soil Nitrogen concentration in minimally disturbed subtropical rainforest soils on ferrosol substrates, indicating soil nutrient capital in a conservation context.

Justification:

Derived from studies of minimally disturbed, mature remnant rainforests that serve as reference sites for restoration and land management comparison, specifically on ferrosol soils.

Sources (1)

Remnant riparian rainforest restoration: Soil property and functional recovery in subtropical Australia.

Remnant riparian rainforest restoration: Soil property and functional recovery in subtropical Australia.

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Supporting Sources (6)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

A conceptual model of nitrogen dynamics for the Great Barrier Reef catchments - Griffith Research Online, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

A conceptual model of nitrogen dynamics for the Great Barrier Reef catchments - Griffith Research Online

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Preview of Early response of soil properties and function to riparian rainforest restoration - Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group, accessed July 18, 2025,

Early response of soil properties and function to riparian rainforest restoration - Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Ecology of Nitrogen Fixing, Nitrifying, and Denitrifying ...

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Effects of long-term nitrogen and phosphorus additions on soil acidification in an N-rich tropical forest | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

Report: Management of the Great Barrier Reef - Parliament of Australia

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Maycock, Colin Rulzion (1998) Plant-soil nutrient relationships in ...

Contextual Support Journal

Maycock, Colin Rulzion (1998) Plant-soil nutrient relationships in ...

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Nutrient limitation of soil microbial processes in tropical forests - ResearchGate

Contextual Support

Nutrient limitation of soil microbial processes in tropical forests - ResearchGate

View Source

Review of C:N Ratios in Vegetation, Litter and Soil Under Australian Native Forests and Plantations - DCCEEW

Contextual Support Journal

Review of C:N Ratios in Vegetation, Litter and Soil ... - DCCEEW

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Pristine Reference
Vegetation Forest
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. The range 4,800–10,000 mg/kg reflects typical observed variation. High Total Nitrogen alone is not sufficient to indicate health; must be assessed with cycling efficiency and retention integrity.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSR-CON-SON family.