Soil Structure & Compaction

AUS-TMI-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 benchmark of < 1,500 kPa represents the upper limit for a soil in the "best available condition" under regenerative agriculture in this biome.

Metric Definition:

Soil penetrometer resistance measured at field capacity indicating soil compaction level.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the upper limit of soil compaction measured by penetrometer resistance for soils in the best available condition under regenerative agriculture in the Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands biome.

Justification:

Derived by synthesis from root-limiting thresholds in agricultural soils and principles of best-practice regenerative management in high-conservation-value island ecosystems due to absence of direct field data.

Sources (2)

Preview of Managing soils to keep them healthy and productive - MLA, accessed July 28, 2025,

Managing soils to keep them healthy and productive - MLA, accessed July 28, 2025, Journal

Soil Compaction Affects the Growth and Establishment of Street Trees in Urban Australia

View Source

Soil Carbon Saturation: What Do We Really Know? - PMC - PubMed Central

Root Penetration Is Associated with Root Diameter and Root Growth ...

View Source

Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Norfolk Island - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support

Norfolk Island - Wikipedia

View Source

Thornleigh Farm - Lord Howe Island

Contextual Support

Thornleigh Farm - Lord Howe Island

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

The benchmark is conditional on soil moisture being at or near field capacity for valid comparison. There is no evidence of a detrimental effect of very low penetrometer resistance in this context; lower resistance indicates better soil health. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values above 1500 kPa indicate harm. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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