Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-TGP-AGR-SOC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

1 %
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.

Evidence & Context

Research from New South Wales suggests that when soil organic carbon levels fall below 1%, overall soil health may be constrained, and the system may be unable to achieve its rainfall-based yield potential.

Metric Definition:

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

Benchmark Definition:

Critical lower threshold for SOC below which soil health and productivity are constrained in Australian Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains.

Justification:

SOC levels less than 1% are likely insufficient to attain maximum agricultural yields, indicating a state of degradation.

Sources (1)

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

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

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

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

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 DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Below this threshold, soils exhibit constrained health and the system may be unable to achieve its rainfall-based yield potential. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-AGR-SOC family.

1.5 % Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Not Stated
MinimumOnly Active v2
3 % Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Not Stated
Point Active v1
2.5 % Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Not Stated
Point Active v1
1.5 % Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Not Stated
Point Active v1