Soil Structure & Compaction

AUS-AMR-LVG-SSC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 0 to 500 kPa

Optimal Range: 0 to 500

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. The scoring engine uses 8 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 7 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Based on this synthesis, a set of functional ranges for soil compaction in sustainably grazed Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands can be established.

Metric Definition:

Penetration resistance measured by cone penetrometer, indicating soil compaction and structural condition.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines soil compaction levels in Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands under sustainable grazing, using penetration resistance thresholds to indicate healthy to degraded soil structure.

Justification:

The benchmark is derived from the lowest quantitative category ('Not compacted. Loose. < 0.50 MPa') from a diagnostic factsheet for Australian conditions. Confidence is 'Moderate' as this is a robust derivation from a credible source, but not a direct measurement from a peer-reviewed study of a best-practice site in the target biome.

Sources (2)

Preview of Overgrazing & Reducing Grazing Pressure | Bush Heritage Australia, accessed July 30, 2025,

Overgrazing & Reducing Grazing Pressure | Bush Heritage Australia, accessed July 30, 2025,

Soil PhD Research | Bush Heritage Australia, accessed July 28, 2025

Preview of SOIL CARBON EDITION - North Central Catchment Management Authority, accessed July 28, 2025,

SOIL CARBON EDITION - North Central Catchment Management Authority, accessed July 28, 2025, Government

Soil Compaction - Tas | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 24, 2025

Supporting Sources (28)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of AusPlots Rangelands - TERN Australia, accessed August 2, 2025

AusPlots Rangelands - TERN Australia, accessed August 2, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

AusPlots Rangelands Survey Protocols Manual

Preview of ausplotsR: quickstart guide to basic analysis of TERN AusPlots ..., accessed July 22, 2025,

ausplotsR: quickstart guide to basic analysis of TERN AusPlots ..., accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support

Biodiversity Regulation of Ecosystem Services

Preview of Australian Journal of Soil Research - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 28, 2025,

Australian Journal of Soil Research - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Australian Journal of Soil Research - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 28, 2025

Preview of Changes in soil physical properties under grazed pastures-Bohrium, accessed July 28, 2025,

Changes in soil physical properties under grazed pastures-Bohrium, accessed July 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Changes in soil physical properties under grazed pastures-Bohrium, accessed July 28, 2025

Preview of Chapter 2: Livestock grazing systems & the environment - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, accessed July 28, 2025,

Chapter 2: Livestock grazing systems & the environment - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, accessed July 28, 2025,

Contextual Support

Chapter 2: Livestock grazing systems & the environment - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, accessed July 28, 2025

Preview of Compaction | VRO - Victorian Resources Online, accessed August 4, 2025,

Compaction | VRO - Victorian Resources Online, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support

3- Build and maintain soil nutrients to improve soil fertility and health in all pasture zones

Preview of Compaction | VRO - Victorian Resources Online, accessed July 28, 2025,

Compaction | VRO - Victorian Resources Online, accessed July 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Compaction Explained - Soil Quality Knowledge Base

Preview of Degradation and recovery processes in arid grazing lands of central ..., accessed July 28, 2025,

Degradation and recovery processes in arid grazing lands of central ..., accessed July 28, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Degradation and recovery processes in arid grazing lands of central ..., accessed July 28, 2025

Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? - Great Barrier Reef Foundation, accessed July 28, 2025,

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? - Great Barrier Reef Foundation, accessed July 28, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? - Great Barrier Reef Foundation, accessed July 23, 2025

Preview of Grazing Benefits - Pasture Project, accessed July 28, 2025,

Grazing Benefits - Pasture Project, accessed July 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Grazing Benefits - Pasture Project, accessed July 28, 2025

Preview of Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 10, 2025,

Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space for time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 23, 2025

Preview of Guidelines for grazing in the Gwydir Wetlands and Macquarie Marshes, accessed July 28, 2025,

Guidelines for grazing in the Gwydir Wetlands and Macquarie Marshes, accessed July 28, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Guidelines for grazing in the Gwydir Wetlands and Macquarie Marshes, accessed July 28, 2025

Preview of Impacts of grazing systems on soil compaction and pasture production in Alberta, accessed July 28, 2025,

Impacts of grazing systems on soil compaction and pasture production in Alberta, accessed July 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Pasture growth

Preview of Managing soils - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 28, 2025,

Managing soils - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Managing soils - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 28, 2025

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,

Contextual Support Journal

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

Preview of Mechanical Resistance to Penetration for Improved Diagnosis of ..., accessed July 30, 2025,

Mechanical Resistance to Penetration for Improved Diagnosis of ..., accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Mechanical Resistance to Penetration for Improved Diagnosis of Soil Compaction at Grazing and Forest Sites - MDPI

Preview of Overgrazing & Reducing Grazing Pressure | Bush Heritage Australia, accessed July 28, 2025,

Overgrazing & Reducing Grazing Pressure | Bush Heritage Australia, accessed July 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Cycling of phosphorus in grazing systems - NSW Department of Primary Industries

Preview of Protect your soil from compaction - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed August 4, 2025,

Protect your soil from compaction - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support

Rangeland Soil Quality Compaction, accessed July 28, 2025

Preview of Rangeland Grazing - Gallagher Animal Management, accessed July 28, 2025,

Rangeland Grazing - Gallagher Animal Management, accessed July 28, 2025,

Irrelevant

Rangeland Grazing - Gallagher Animal Management, accessed July 28, 2025

Preview of Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,

Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed July 20, 2025,

Preview of Soil Bulk Density as Influenced by Grazing Intensity and Soil Type on a Shortgrass Prairie Site, accessed July 28, 2025,

Soil Bulk Density as Influenced by Grazing Intensity and Soil Type on a Shortgrass Prairie Site, accessed July 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Bulk Density as Influenced by Grazing Intensity and Soil Type on a Shortgrass Prairie Site, accessed July 28, 2025

Preview of SOIL CARBON EDITION - North Central Catchment Management Authority, accessed July 6, 2025,

SOIL CARBON EDITION - North Central Catchment Management Authority, accessed July 6, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

0524-2837-MTDC; Hand-Held Electronic Cone Penetrometers for Measuring Soil Strength page02 - Forest Service, accessed July 28, 2025

Preview of Soil compaction under varying rest periods and levels of mechanical disturbance in a rotational grazing system, accessed July 28, 2025,

Soil compaction under varying rest periods and levels of mechanical disturbance in a rotational grazing system, accessed July 28, 2025,

Contextual Support

Soil compaction under varying rest periods and levels of mechanical disturbance in a rotational grazing system, accessed July 28, 2025

Preview of Soil health - Penetrometer - Department for Environment and Water, accessed August 2, 2025,

Soil health - Penetrometer - Department for Environment and Water, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil health - Department for Environment and Water

Preview of Soil health indicator sheet - Soil compaction (bulk density) - Minnesota Stormwater Manual, accessed July 30, 2025,

Soil health indicator sheet - Soil compaction (bulk density) - Minnesota Stormwater Manual, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support

How do I manage the impact of compaction? - Soil Health Knowledgebase, accessed July 28, 2025

Preview of Soil Penetration Resistance as a Soil Health Indicator - SDSU Extension - South Dakota State University, accessed August 4, 2025,

Soil Penetration Resistance as a Soil Health Indicator - SDSU Extension - South Dakota State University, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Soil compaction and strength; measurement methods and influences on perennial grass growth.

Preview of TERN Ecosystem Surveillance: Soil Sample - TERN Data Discovery Portal, accessed July 28, 2025,

TERN Ecosystem Surveillance: Soil Sample - TERN Data Discovery Portal, accessed July 28, 2025,

Methodology Source Government

AusPlots Rangelands - TERN Australia, accessed July 28, 2025

Preview of The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 22, 2025,

The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

View of Efficacy of the Ecosystem Services Approach in Transitioning to Regenerative Agriculture in Australia | Reinvention, accessed July 27, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: Not a numeric value; defined as a soil state with low penetration resistance but lacking sufficient aggregate stability to resist erosion. Optimal Range: < 500 kPa, provided soil has good aggregate stability. Upper Detrimental Threshold: > 1,500 kPa, where root growth begins to be restricted, indicating a transition to a degraded state. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.