Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-TGP-AGR-SOC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

3 %
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: Point

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is Point, 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.

Evidence & Context

A value of 3.0% SOC represents a robust and defensible benchmark for a high-functioning, best-practice cropping system on a clayey soil.

Metric Definition:

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

Benchmark Definition:

Benchmark SOC for clayey soils under best-practice cropping systems in Australian Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains.

Justification:

Represents the upper range observed in high-functioning temperate mixed farming systems on fertile soils with high carbon storage potential.

Sources (1)

Preview of Development of a soil carbon benchmark matrix for central west NSW - IUSS
Development of a soil carbon benchmark matrix for central west NSW - IUSS Journal

Development of a soil carbon benchmark matrix for central west NSW - IUSS

View Source

Supporting Sources (4)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Beefing up carbon capture | On-farm emissions case studies - Agriculture Victoria
Beefing up carbon capture | On-farm emissions case studies - Agriculture Victoria
Contextual Support Government

Beefing up carbon capture | On-farm emissions case studies - Agriculture Victoria

View Source
Preview of How Much Carbon Can Soil Store - NSW | Fact Sheets | soilquality ...
How Much Carbon Can Soil Store - NSW | Fact Sheets | soilquality ...
Direct Evidence Government

How Much Carbon Can Soil Store - NSW | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au

View Source
Preview of Soil carbon dynamics under different cropping and pasture management in temperate Australia: Results of three long-term experiments - CSIRO Publishing
Soil carbon dynamics under different cropping and pasture management in temperate Australia: Results of three long-term experiments - CSIRO Publishing
Contextual Support Journal

Soil carbon dynamics under different cropping and pasture management in temperate Australia: Results of three long-term experiments - CSIRO Publishing

View Source
Preview of Soil organic carbon thresholds control fertilizer effects on carbon accrual in croplands worldwide - PMC
Soil organic carbon thresholds control fertilizer effects on carbon accrual in croplands worldwide - PMC
Direct Evidence Journal

Soil organic carbon thresholds control fertilizer effects on carbon accrual in croplands worldwide - PMC

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 6 Jun 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. This value is indicative of systems successfully employing regenerative practices over the long term. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.