Soil Structure & Compaction

AUS-TMS-AGR-SSC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

1500 kPa

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: MaximumOnly

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

The reference value of <1500 kPa is proposed as a target for high environmental health where soil compaction is not limiting root growth or water infiltration.

Metric Definition:

Penetrometer resistance (PR) as a measure of soil structure and compaction

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the maximum penetrometer resistance value indicating high environmental health in tropical monsoonal savanna agricultural soils, where soil compaction does not limit root growth or water infiltration.

Justification:

This value is derived from analogous tropical systems and studies focusing on soil improvement practices, representing a state of high environmental health conducive to root growth and water infiltration.

Sources (3)

(PDF) Changes in surface soil properties of a no-tilled tropical Alfisol ...

(PDF) Changes in surface soil properties of a no-tilled tropical Alfisol ...

View Source

research.usq.edu.au

Water Acquisition by Roots From the Subsoil: Impact of Physical Constraints on the Dynamics of Water Capture | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source

www.frontiersin.org, accessed May 16, 2025, Journal

www.frontiersin.org

View Source

Supporting Sources (10)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

(PDF) Final report Scoping Study of Soil Management in Livestock Grazing Systems

Contextual Support Journal

Final report - MLA

View Source

Agricultural soils mitigate CO2 emissions - cifor-icraf

Contextual Support

Agricultural soils mitigate CO2 emissions - cifor-icraf

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Bibliographies: 'Soil physical properties' - Grafiati

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Bibliographies: 'Soil physical properties' - Grafiati

View Source

Preview of Carbon accounting, land management, science and policy uncertainty in Australian savanna landscapes: introduction and overview - ResearchGate

Carbon accounting, land management, science and policy uncertainty in Australian savanna landscapes: introduction and overview - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

Carbon accounting, land management, science and policy uncertainty in Australian savanna landscapes: introduction and overview - ResearchGate

View Source

Decomposition of crop residues under conventional and zero tillage - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

Decomposition of crop residues under conventional and zero tillage - ResearchGate

View Source

Management of Soil Problems PDF - Scribd

Contextual Support

Management of Soil Problems PDF - Scribd

View Source

SOILWATER CONSULTANTS - Deep Yellow, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

SECURING AUSTRALIA'S SOIL For profitable industries and healthy landscapes - DAFF

View Source

Sustainable land management for the Oxisols of the Latin American savannas - CGSpace

Contextual Support

Sustainable land management for the Oxisols of the Latin American savannas - CGSpace

View Source

Time-dependent changes in distribution patterns of soil bulk density ...

Contextual Support

A stocktake of Australia's current investment in soils research, development and extension - DAFF

View Source

Preview of Use of deep-rooted tropical pastures to build-up an arable layer through improved soil properties of an Oxisol in the Eastern Plains (Llanos Orientales) of Colombia | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Use of deep-rooted tropical pastures to build-up an arable layer through improved soil properties of an Oxisol in the Eastern Plains (Llanos Orientales) of Colombia | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Use of deep-rooted tropical pastures to build-up an arable layer through improved soil properties of an Oxisol in the Eastern Plains (Llanos Orientales) of Colombia | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

This benchmark is a proxy due to limited direct data for Australian Tropical Monsoonal Savannas and is based on values deemed acceptable in tropical cropping systems and post-remediation values in Australian agricultural soils.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMS-AGR-SSC family.