Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)
Benchmark Value
Scoring Curve
This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.
Evidence & Context
A pivotal study identified a critical initial SOC threshold of approximately 1.5% that fundamentally alters how the soil carbon system responds to management inputs.
Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) percentage in the top 0-10 cm soil layer
Critical SOC threshold that marks a biogeochemical tipping point for stable carbon accumulation in Australian Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains.
Below this threshold, the soil ecosystem lacks the capacity to build long-term, stable carbon.
Sources (1)
Soil organic carbon thresholds control fertilizer effects on carbon accrual in croplands worldwide - PMC
View SourceSupporting Sources (4)
Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.
Beefing up carbon capture | On-farm emissions case studies - Agriculture Victoria
View SourceDevelopment of a soil carbon benchmark matrix for central west NSW - IUSS
View SourceHow Much Carbon Can Soil Store - NSW | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au
View SourceSoil carbon dynamics under different cropping and pasture management in temperate Australia: Results of three long-term experiments - CSIRO Publishing
View Source