Soil Potassium

AUS-TSR-FOR-SOK General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

100 mg/kg

Thresholds: Lower: 100, 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 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 critical level for achieving 90% of maximum productivity in Eucalyptus plantations as 100 mg/dm³ (assumed ≈ 100 mg/kg).

Metric Definition:

Critical soil potassium level below which forest productivity and health are compromised.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the critical soil potassium level below which forest productivity and health are compromised in Australia's Tropical and Subtropical Rainforests production forestry systems.

Justification:

Derived from a study linking soil potassium levels to biomass production in Eucalyptus plantations.

Sources (1)

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

Supporting Sources (15)

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,

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

Direct Evidence Government

Understanding soil tests for pastures

Context

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

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 24 Mar 2026

Notes

This threshold is higher than typical agricultural critical levels, reflecting the greater nutrient demand of forest ecosystems. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation.

Related Benchmarks

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