Soil Structure & Compaction

AUS-TSW-LVG-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. The scoring engine uses 2 benchmarks together — the MaximumOnly form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

MaximumOnly Primary MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Multiple independent sources from Australian agricultural research converge on a value of 1,500 kPa (1.5 MPa) as the threshold where the root growth of most crop and pasture species starts to be restricted.

Metric Definition:

Soil penetration resistance threshold above which root growth is restricted.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark marks the critical soil penetration resistance threshold where root growth begins to be physically constrained in temperate semi-arid shrublands and open woodlands under livestock grazing.

Justification:

This value is supported by multiple credible, peer-reviewed, and industry-supported sources relevant to Australian agriculture.

Sources (1)

This may be the author's version of a work that was submitted/accepted for publication in the following source: Michael, RN., - QUT ePrints Journal

This may be the author's version of a work that was submitted/accepted for publication in the following source: Michael, RN., - QUT ePrints

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Supporting Sources (3)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Impact of agricultural land use on distribution of microbial biomass and activity within soil aggregates - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

Plant responses to livestock grazing frequency in an Australian temperate grassland, accessed August 8, 2025,

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Managing sandy soils across low-rainfall regions of south-eastern Australia (GRDC Fact Sheet)

Direct Evidence Journal

Managing sandy soils across low-rainfall regions of south-eastern Australia (GRDC Fact Sheet)

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Soil Compaction Explained - Soil Quality Knowledge Base, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

high soil strength - fact sheet - GRDC

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Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 2
Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

This threshold marks the boundary between a healthy and a degraded state where root growth begins to be physically constrained. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSW-LVG-SSC family.