Soil Potassium

AUS-TMI-AGR-SOK General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 150 to 250 mg/kg

Optimal Range: 150 to 250

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. The scoring engine uses 15 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 14 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

Optimal Range: 150-250 mg/kg is considered optimal for ecologically healthy and productive systems on loamy to clay-loam soils, typical of the target biome.

Metric Definition:

Optimal soil potassium ranges stratified by soil texture for high-rainfall agricultural systems.

Benchmark Definition:

Optimal potassium concentration ranges for different soil textures in high-productivity systems.

Justification:

Based on state agricultural department guidelines and data from Victorian and Tasmanian pasture systems.

Sources (2)

Preview of Potassium | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed August 11, 2025,

Potassium | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed August 11, 2025, Government

Soil fertility in grazing systems: Manage potassium to manage nitrogen - Crops and Soils, accessed July 28, 2025,

View Source

Preview of Potassium for high-performing pastures | Nutrient Advantage, accessed July 18, 2025,

Potassium for high-performing pastures | Nutrient Advantage, accessed July 18, 2025, Journal

Potassium for high rainfall pastures - DPIRD's Digital library

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Critical Value of Soil Potassium for Potato Crops in Volcanic Soils

Contextual Support Journal

Critical Value of Soil Potassium for Potato Crops in Volcanic Soils

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 24 Mar 2026

Notes

Ranges increase from sandy loams to clays, reflecting higher CEC and potassium holding capacity. [Migration] Original wider evidence range: 121 – 300 (retained OptimalRange: 150 – 250)

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMI-AGR-SOK family.