Soil Structure & Compaction

AUS-AIF-CON-SSC General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

500 kPa

Direction: Lower 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. The scoring engine uses 10 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 9 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Soils with very low penetration resistance (< 500 kPa) may lack sufficient aggregate stability and be susceptible to erosion, indicating a structurally weak soil state.

Metric Definition:

Cone Penetrometer Resistance (kPa), measured when the soil profile is uniformly wet (at or near Field Capacity).

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark indicates a lower critical threshold where soil is structurally weak and may be prone to erosion, especially in sandy or loamy soils.

Justification:

Included for completeness and supported by ecological understanding of soil stability and erosion risk, but less relevant to dominant Vertosol soils.

Sources (2)

Preview of (PDF) The hydrology of Vertosols used for cotton production: I. Hydraulic, structural and fundamental soil properties - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025

(PDF) The hydrology of Vertosols used for cotton production: I. Hydraulic, structural and fundamental soil properties - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025

Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment

View Source

Australian Journal of Soil Research - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 28, 2025, Journal

Australian Journal of Soil Research - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Compaction properties of vertisols and their potential effect on sunflower - UQ eSpace

Methodology Source GreyLiterature

Compaction properties of vertisols and their potential effect on sunflower - UQ eSpace

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

More relevant for sandy or loamy soils; in Vertosols, low readings may indicate tilled or unstable conditions. This threshold is of secondary importance in the target biome.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AIF-CON-SSC family.