Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-TMS-FOR-SOC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

1.5 %

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: MaximumOnly

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 13 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 12 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

Considering these points, an SOC level of <1.5% in the 0-10 cm layer is proposed as a critically low threshold for Tropical Monsoonal Savannas under production forestry.

Metric Definition:

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) percentage in the 0-10 cm soil layer

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines a critically low threshold for Soil Organic Carbon percentage in the top 10 cm of soil, below which soil functions are severely degraded in Tropical Monsoonal Savannas under production forestry.

Justification:

SOC levels below 1.5% indicate severe degradation and impairment of essential soil functions vital for sustainable forestry and ecosystem health.

Sources (1)

Soil Organic Matter Dynamics and Carbon Sequestration in Australian Tropical Soils Journal

Soil Organic Matter Dynamics and Carbon Sequestration in Australian Tropical Soils

View Source

Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

$Preview of Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed July 6, 2025,$

Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed July 6, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Pedogenic controls of soil organic carbon stocks and stability beneath montane Norway spruce forests along a precipitation gradient - PMC, accessed March 28, 2026,

View Source

Optimal Fire Regimes for Soil Carbon Storage in Tropical Savannas of Northern Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

Optimal Fire Regimes for Soil Carbon Storage in Tropical Savannas of Northern Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 25 Mar 2026

Notes

Below this level, ecological functions are likely to be significantly impaired, representing a substantial departure from the natural high SOC status of healthy systems.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMS-FOR-SOC family.