Soil Phosphorus

AUS-ASC-CON-SOP General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

54 mg/kg

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

Extractable Phosphorus (mg/kg): Short Alpine Herbfield (SAHF) on metasediments: 54 mg/kg

Metric Definition:

bicarbonate-extractable phosphorus (comparable to Colwell P)

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the typical level of bicarbonate-extractable phosphorus in soils of short alpine herbfield vegetation on metasediment substrates within the alpine and subalpine conservation areas of Australia.

Justification:

Measured extractable P in healthy, native alpine/subalpine communities in the Snowy Mountains.

Sources (2)

Preview of Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 28, 2025,

Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 28, 2025, Journal

Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing

View Source

Preview of research-repository.griffith.edu.au, accessed on May 25, 2025,

research-repository.griffith.edu.au, accessed on May 25, 2025, Journal

Impacts of Camping and Trampling on Australian Alpine and Subalpine Vegetation and Soils - Griffith Research Online

View Source

Supporting Sources (7)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

(PDF) Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia, accessed on May 31, 2025

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed on May 28, 2025

View Source

A review of the potential impacts of different fire regimes on soil erosion and sedimentation, nutrient and carb, accessed May 27, 2025,

Direct Evidence

Stop feeding weeds - Invasive Species Council

View Source

Preview of Doolette, A. L., Smernik, R. J., and McLaren, T. I. (2016). The composition of organic phosphorus in soils of the Snowy Mountains region of south-eastern Australia. Biogeochemistry, 126, 173–187.

Doolette, A. L., Smernik, R. J., and McLaren, T. I. (2016). The composition of organic phosphorus in soils of the Snowy Mountains region of south-eastern Australia. Biogeochemistry, 126, 173–187.

Direct Evidence

Doolette, A. L., Smernik, R. J., and McLaren, T. I. (2016). The composition of organic phosphorus in soils of the Snowy Mountains region of south-eastern Australia. Biogeochemistry, 126, 173–187.

View Source

Handreck, K. A. (1997). Phosphorus requirements of Australian native plants. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 35(2), 241-290.

Contextual Support Journal

Handreck, K. A. (1997). Phosphorus requirements of Australian native plants. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 35(2), 241-290.

View Source

Invasive Species Council. (2022). Stop feeding weeds.

Methodology Source Journal

Invasive Species Council. (2022). Stop feeding weeds.

View Source

Soil health stocktake Queensland - GRDC, accessed May 11, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Department of Primary Industries, Victoria. (2020). Understanding soil tests for pastures.

View Source

Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ..., accessed May 12, 2025

Direct Evidence Government

Agriculture Victoria. (2025). Understanding soil tests for pastures. Farm Management.

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

Comparable to Colwell P values. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-ASC-CON-SOP family.