Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-AKW-LVG-SOC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.5 %

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: MinimumOnly

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

CompositeFramework Primary MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard CompositeFramework Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard CompositeFramework Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

A level below approximately 0.5% SOC is considered critically low, indicating significant degradation and impaired ecosystem function.

Metric Definition:

Critical lower threshold of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) concentration below which ecosystem function is impaired.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the critical lower Soil Organic Carbon threshold below which ecosystem functions are likely compromised in Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands under livestock grazing.

Justification:

Based on literature linking SOC loss to degradation and impaired soil function, with a 40-50% loss from benchmark considered critical.

Sources (1)

Preview of Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands: a critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands: a critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025, Journal

Synthesis of Australian Rangeland SOC Data from CSIRO, Peer-Reviewed Literature, and Government Reports

View Source

Supporting Sources (10)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

AusPlots Rangelands - TERN Australia, accessed August 2, 2025

Methodology Source Journal

AusPlots Rangelands Survey Protocols Manual

View Source

Preview of Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient‐depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - Arid Ecology Lab, accessed August 3, 2025

Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient‐depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - Arid Ecology Lab, accessed August 3, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Soil Inorganic Carbon, the Other and Equally Important Soil Carbon Pool: Distribution, Controlling Factors, and the Impact of C

View Source

Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space for time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 18, 2025,

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space for time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Case Study - Regenerative Rangelands - Landcare Australia, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

The effect of climate change on pastoralism in the Australian arid and semi-arid rangelands - Nuffield Farming Scholarships, accessed July 29, 2025,

View Source

Impacts of Rotational Grazing on Soil Carbon in Native Grass-Based ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services - Frontiers

View Source

Is land condition a useful indicator of soil organic carbon stock in Australia's northern grazing land? - UQ eSpace

Direct Evidence Journal

Is land condition a useful indicator of soil organic carbon stock in Australia's northern grazing land? - UQ eSpace

View Source

Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source

NVIS Fact sheet MVG 22 – Chenopod shrublands, samphire shrublands and forblands - DCCEEW, accessed July 24, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

A Case for Below-Ground Dispersal? Insights into the Biology, Ecology and Conservation of Blind Cave Spiders in the Genus Troglodiplura (Mygalomorphae: Anamidae) - PubMed Central, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source

Preview of Sensitivity of soil organic carbon to grazing management in the semi-arid rangelands of south-eastern Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Sensitivity of soil organic carbon to grazing management in the semi-arid rangelands of south-eastern Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

Sensitivity of soil organic carbon to grazing management in the semi-arid rangelands of south-eastern Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source

Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands a critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Managing cattle grazing intensity: effects on soil organic matter and soil nitrogen, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 6 Jun 2026

Notes

Represents a significant loss from the best-on-offer condition, functionally linked to loss of perennial vegetation, poor soil structure, and high erosion risk. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AKW-LVG-SOC family.