Soil Potassium

AUS-TSR-FOR-SOK General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 100 to 150 mg/kg

Thresholds: Lower: 100, Upper: 780

Optimal Range: 100 to 150

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

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The benchmark represents an optimal range for available soil K (assumed equivalent to mg/dm³) in high-productivity forestry systems, directly linking soil nutrient status to sustainable biomass production.

Metric Definition:

Available soil potassium concentration representing the best available condition for production forestry within Australia's Tropical and Subtropical Rainforests biome.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the optimal range of available soil potassium in high-productivity forestry systems within Australia's Tropical and Subtropical Rainforests, supporting sustainable biomass production and ecosystem function.

Justification:

The benchmark is derived from a multi-evidence synthesis integrating data from high-productivity forestry systems, ecological principles from Australian rainforests, and soil-specific agronomic guidelines.

Sources (2)

Preview of Establishment of critical nutrient levels in soil and plant for eucalyptus

Establishment of critical nutrient levels in soil and plant for eucalyptus Journal

Establishment of critical nutrient levels in soil and plant for eucalyptus

Preview of Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ..., accessed May 12, 2025

Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ..., accessed May 12, 2025 Government

Understanding soil tests for pastures

Supporting Sources (14)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of A Review of Potassium-Rich Crop Residues Used as Organic Matter Amendments in Tree Crop Agroecosystems - MDPI

A Review of Potassium-Rich Crop Residues Used as Organic Matter Amendments in Tree Crop Agroecosystems - MDPI

Contextual Support Journal

A Review of Potassium-Rich Crop Residues Used as Organic Matter Amendments in Tree Crop Agroecosystems - MDPI

Preview of Cation Exchange Capacity - Local Land Services

Cation Exchange Capacity - Local Land Services

Contextual Support Government

Cation exchange capacity - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 28, 2025,

Preview of Cation exchange capacity - NSW Department of Primary Industries

Cation exchange capacity - NSW Department of Primary Industries

Contextual Support Journal

Cation exchange capacity - NSW Department of Primary Industries

Preview of Cations and Cation Exchange Capacity - Tas | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au

Cations and Cation Exchange Capacity - Tas | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au

Contextual Support Government

Cations and Cation Exchange Capacity | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au

Preview of Common soil types | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed August 9, 2025

Common soil types | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed August 9, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Australian Soil Classification edition 3 - CALCAROSOLS

Preview of Form and Availability | Soils - Part 6: Phosphorus and Potassium in the Soil - passel

Form and Availability | Soils - Part 6: Phosphorus and Potassium in the Soil - passel

Contextual Support Government

Form and Availability | Soils - Part 6: Phosphorus and Potassium in the Soil - passel

Preview of Hoop Pine - The Monarch of the Forest - Gympie District Landcare

Hoop Pine - The Monarch of the Forest - Gympie District Landcare

Contextual Support Journal

Relationships between soil nutrients and vegetation in a north coast forest, New South Wales - ResearchGate

Preview of Nutrient distribution and cycling in a subtropical ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 16, 2025,

Nutrient distribution and cycling in a subtropical ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Nutrient distribution and cycling in a subtropical ... - CSIRO Publishing

Preview of Plant nutrients in the soil - NSW Department of Primary Industries

Plant nutrients in the soil - NSW Department of Primary Industries

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Plant nutrients in the soil - NSW Department of Primary Industries

Preview of Plant nutrients in the soil - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 18, 2025,

Plant nutrients in the soil - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Rangelands Living Skin | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 28, 2025,

Preview of Potassium | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au

Potassium | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au

Contextual Support Government

Potassium | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au

Preview of Potassium | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 18, 2025,

Potassium | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Plant nutrients 101 | Sustainable Gardening Australia

Preview of Potassium Considerations for Nutrient Management - Gov.bc.ca, accessed July 18, 2025,

Potassium Considerations for Nutrient Management - Gov.bc.ca, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Essential Role of Potassium in Apple and Its Implications for Management of Orchard Fertilization - PubMed Central

Preview of Potassium In Soil Explained - Soil Quality Knowledge Base, accessed August 11, 2025,

Potassium In Soil Explained - Soil Quality Knowledge Base, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

What are the optimum nutrient targets for pastures? - Soil Health Knowledgebase, accessed July 28, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

Status Superseded
Version 1
Effective From 24 Mar 2026
Effective To 26 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 100 mg/kg, below which long-term forest productivity and health are likely compromised. Upper Detrimental Threshold: Not defined by direct toxicity, but by cation imbalance with an upper limit at 8–10% of soil CEC, corresponding to approximately 310–780 mg/kg for typical regional soils.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSR-FOR-SOK family.