Soil Nitrogen — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

Benchmark Value

2500 mg/kg

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 2500

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: MaximumOnly

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

CompositeFramework Primary OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard UpperThreshold Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

A conceptual threshold of >2000-2500 mg/kg is identified. Levels this high likely indicate excessive reliance on artificial fertilizers, leading to risks of nutrient leaching, water pollution, and ecological imbalances, rather than reflecting a healthy, biologically-driven system.

Metric Definition:

Upper detrimental threshold for total soil nitrogen concentration indicating pollution and ecological imbalance.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark marks the upper detrimental threshold for total soil nitrogen concentration, indicating pollution and ecological imbalance due to excessive artificial fertilizer use.

Justification:

This threshold is conceptual, based on observed values in well-managed plantations and the risk of excessive artificial inputs causing ecological harm.

Sources (1)

Preview of (PDF) Impact of thinning of Acacia mangium plantation on soil ..., accessed July 30, 2025,

(PDF) Impact of thinning of Acacia mangium plantation on soil ..., accessed July 30, 2025, Journal

Impact of thinning of Acacia mangium plantation on soil chemical properties

Supporting Sources (37)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 8 March 2009 To the inquiry I am writing to express my experience and opinion regarding the forest operations currently taking p, accessed July 30, 2025,

8 March 2009 To the inquiry I am writing to express my experience and opinion regarding the forest operations currently taking p, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Acacia mangium - Kauai Invasive Species Committee (KISC)

Preview of Acacia mangium - Kauai Invasive Species Committee (KISC), accessed July 30, 2025,

Acacia mangium - Kauai Invasive Species Committee (KISC), accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Acacia mangium - Kauai Invasive Species Committee (KISC), accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of Acacia mangium - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025,

Acacia mangium - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support

Acacia mangium - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of Acacia mangium (brown salwood) | CABI Compendium, accessed August 1, 2025,

Acacia mangium (brown salwood) | CABI Compendium, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support

Acacia mangium (brown salwood) | CABI Compendium, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of assessment report 29 - NTEPA - Northern Territory Government, accessed August 1, 2025,

assessment report 29 - NTEPA - Northern Territory Government, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support

Untitled - NTEPA - Northern Territory Government, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of Benefits of planting Acacia mangium in terms of land restoration, C sequestration, soil fertility and tree production in different ecosystems - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,

Benefits of planting Acacia mangium in terms of land restoration, C sequestration, soil fertility and tree production in different ecosystems - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support

Benefits of planting Acacia mangium in terms of land restoration, C sequestration, soil fertility and tree production in different ecosystems - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ON THE TIWI ISLANDS, NORTHERN TERRITORY: Part 1. Environments and plants, accessed July 30, 2025,

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ON THE TIWI ISLANDS, NORTHERN TERRITORY: Part 1. Environments and plants, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ON THE TIWI ISLANDS, NORTHERN TERRITORY: Part 1. Environments and plants

Preview of BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ON THE TIWI ISLANDS, NORTHERN TERRITORY: Part 3. Management and planning for biodi, accessed August 1, 2025,

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ON THE TIWI ISLANDS, NORTHERN TERRITORY: Part 3. Management and planning for biodi, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ON THE TIWI ISLANDS, NORTHERN TERRITORY: Part 3. Management and planning for biodi, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of Carbon Program - Tiwi Resources, accessed July 30, 2025,

Carbon Program - Tiwi Resources, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Carbon Program - Tiwi Resources, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of Categories - Zund, Peter - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed July 30, 2025,

Categories - Zund, Peter - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Categories - Zund, Peter - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of Climate & Seasons | Australian Wildlife Journeys, accessed July 30, 2025,

Climate & Seasons | Australian Wildlife Journeys, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Irrelevant

Soil erosion as a resilience drain in disturbed tropical forests, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Eucalyptus growth in relation to combined nitrogen and phosphorus fertiliser and soil chemistry in Tasmania, accessed July 30, 2025, )/08Smethurst.pdf

Eucalyptus growth in relation to combined nitrogen and phosphorus fertiliser and soil chemistry in Tasmania, accessed July 30, 2025, )/08Smethurst.pdf

Contextual Support

Eucalyptus growth in relation to combined nitrogen and phosphorus fertiliser and soil chemistry in Tasmania, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of Forestry | Department of Agriculture and Fisheries - Northern Territory Government, accessed July 30, 2025,

Forestry | Department of Agriculture and Fisheries - Northern Territory Government, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Forestry | Department of Agriculture and Fisheries - Northern Territory Government, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of Full article: Nutrient management of contrasting Acacia mangium genotypes and weed management strategies in South Sumatra, Indonesia, accessed July 30, 2025,

Full article: Nutrient management of contrasting Acacia mangium genotypes and weed management strategies in South Sumatra, Indonesia, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support

Full article: Nutrient management of contrasting Acacia mangium genotypes and weed management strategies in South Sumatra, Indonesia, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of Great Southern Plantations in the Tiwi Islands - Bad Developers Environmental Exposure Website, accessed July 30, 2025,

Great Southern Plantations in the Tiwi Islands - Bad Developers Environmental Exposure Website, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Great Southern Plantations in the Tiwi Islands - Bad Developers Environmental Exposure Website, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of Incredible Great Barrier Reef Islands For Your Holiday - Visitor's Guide - Queensland, accessed July 30, 2025,

Incredible Great Barrier Reef Islands For Your Holiday - Visitor's Guide - Queensland, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support

Incredible Great Barrier Reef Islands For Your Holiday - Visitor's Guide - Queensland, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Inquiry into forestry and mining operations on the Tiwi Islands, accessed July 30, 2025,

Inquiry into forestry and mining operations on the Tiwi Islands, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Inquiry into forestry and mining operations on the Tiwi Islands, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of List of islands of Australia - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025,

List of islands of Australia - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

List of islands of Australia - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of Natural Resource Management Research - Tiwi Land Council, accessed July 30, 2025,

Natural Resource Management Research - Tiwi Land Council, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Irrelevant

Natural Resource Management Research - Tiwi Land Council, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of Nitrogen fixation of Acacia mangium Willd. from two seed sources grown at different levels of phosphorus in an Ultisol, South Sumatra, Indonesia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,

Nitrogen fixation of Acacia mangium Willd. from two seed sources grown at different levels of phosphorus in an Ultisol, South Sumatra, Indonesia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Nitrogen fixation of Acacia mangium Willd. from two seed sources grown at different levels of phosphorus in an Ultisol, South Sumatra, Indonesia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of Nitrogen management in Eucalyptus nitens plantations - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,

Nitrogen management in Eucalyptus nitens plantations - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Nitrogen management in Eucalyptus nitens plantations - ResearchGate

Preview of Potential of Bioassays to Assess Consequences of Cultivation of Acacia mangium Trees on Nitrogen Bioavailability to Eucalyptus Trees: Two Case-Studies in Contrasting Tropical Soils - MDPI, accessed July 30, 2025,

Potential of Bioassays to Assess Consequences of Cultivation of Acacia mangium Trees on Nitrogen Bioavailability to Eucalyptus Trees: Two Case-Studies in Contrasting Tropical Soils - MDPI, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Potential of Bioassays to Assess Consequences of Cultivation of Acacia mangium Trees on Nitrogen Bioavailability to Eucalyptus Trees: Two Case-Studies in Contrasting Tropical Soils - MDPI, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of Priorities for improving soil condition across Australia's agricultural landscapes - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 30, 2025,

Priorities for improving soil condition across Australia's agricultural landscapes - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Priorities for improving soil condition across Australia's agricultural landscapes - CSIRO Research Publications Repository

Preview of Queensland tropical rain forests - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025,

Queensland tropical rain forests - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support

Queensland tropical rain forests - Wikipedia, accessed July 31, 2025,

Preview of Reforestation in the Tropics and Subtropics of Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,

Reforestation in the Tropics and Subtropics of Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support

Reforestation in the Tropics and Subtropics of Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of Resource management for growers | NT.GOV.AU, accessed July 30, 2025,

Resource management for growers | NT.GOV.AU, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Resource management for growers | NT.GOV.AU, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of SLGA: Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia (Soil Attributes) | Earth Engine Data Catalog, accessed July 30, 2025,

SLGA: Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia (Soil Attributes) | Earth Engine Data Catalog, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source

Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Cation Exchange Capacity (3" resolution) - Release 1 - Research Data Australia

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,

Direct Evidence Government

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

Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Nitrogen (3" resolution) - Release 2 | Datasets | data.gov.au, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Nitrogen (3" resolution) - Release 2 | Datasets | data.gov.au, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source

Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Nitrogen (3" resolution) - Release 2 | Datasets | data.gov.au, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - CSIRO, accessed July 30, 2025,

Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - CSIRO, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source

Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - CSIRO, accessed August 1, 2025

Preview of Sustainable development on Indigenous lands - Sustainability - The University of Melbourne, accessed July 30, 2025,

Sustainable development on Indigenous lands - Sustainability - The University of Melbourne, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Sustainable development on Indigenous lands - Sustainability - The University of Melbourne, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of The Secretary - Parliament of Australia, accessed July 30, 2025,

The Secretary - Parliament of Australia, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The Secretary - Parliament of Australia, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of Tiwi Islands Indigenous Protected Area | Plan of Management 2023-2033, accessed July 30, 2025, ).pdf

Tiwi Islands Indigenous Protected Area | Plan of Management 2023-2033, accessed July 30, 2025, ).pdf

Contextual Support

Tiwi Islands Fire and Weed Management Plan 2021

Preview of Tiwi Islands Shows Indigenous Role in Future Forest Care - Wood Central, accessed July 30, 2025,

Tiwi Islands Shows Indigenous Role in Future Forest Care - Wood Central, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Tiwi Islands Shows Indigenous Role in Future Forest Care - Wood Central, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of Tiwi Plantation Corporation and Port Melville - Transparency Portal, accessed July 30, 2025,

Tiwi Plantation Corporation and Port Melville - Transparency Portal, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support

Forestry | Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

Preview of Tropical Rainforest (1993), accessed July 30, 2025,

Tropical Rainforest (1993), accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Tropical Rainforest (1993), accessed July 31, 2025,

Preview of Wet Tropics of Queensland - UNESCO World Heritage Centre, accessed July 22, 2025,

Wet Tropics of Queensland - UNESCO World Heritage Centre, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Wet Tropics of Queensland - UNESCO World Heritage Centre, accessed July 23, 2025

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 25 Mar 2026

Notes

Levels above this threshold indicate a shift to a high-input, polluting system with risks of nutrient leaching and ecological imbalance.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMI-FOR-SON family.