Soil Nitrogen

AUS-TGP-CON-SON General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 1500 to 3000 mg/kg
Optimal Range: 1500 to 3000
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

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

Evidence & Context

Table 1: Total Soil Nitrogen (TN) Benchmarks for Best Available Condition in Australian Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains (0-10 cm depth)

Metric Definition:

Total Soil Nitrogen (TN) in the top 10 cm of soil

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the optimal range of Total Soil Nitrogen in the top 10 cm of basalt-derived cracking clay soils in temperate grassy woodlands and plains under conservation, reflecting naturally more fertile soil conditions.

Justification:

The benchmark of 1500–3000 mg/kg is derived primarily from SLGA data for high-integrity conservation areas on the Victorian Volcanic Plain.

Sources (2)

Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Nitrogen (3" resolution) - Release 2
Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Nitrogen (3" resolution) - Release 2 Journal

Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Nitrogen (3" resolution) - Release 2

View Source
Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Nitrogen (3" resolution) - Release 2 - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed August 5, 2025,
Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Nitrogen (3" resolution) - Release 2 - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed August 5, 2025, Government

Geology | Norfolk Island National Park | Parks Australia, accessed August 2, 2025

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states
Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states
Direct Evidence

Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 25 Mar 2026

Notes

These soils are typically heavy, grey-to-red cracking clays that are naturally more fertile than their granite-derived counterparts.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-CON-SON family.

— mg/kg High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
OptimalRange Active v1
2500 mg/kg High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
MinimumOnly Active v1