Soil Nitrogen

AUS-TSW-FOR-SON General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 600 to 1800 mg/kg
Optimal Range: 600 to 1800
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

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

An optimal range of approximately 600 mg/kg to 1800 mg/kg is proposed.

Metric Definition:

Total Soil Nitrogen (NTO) as a percentage of fine soil mass converted to mg/kg.

Benchmark Definition:

This range defines the safe operating space for soil nitrogen in temperate semi-arid shrublands production forestry, supporting ecosystem health and sustainable productivity.

Justification:

This range avoids critical deficiency while staying below the detrimental saturation point, representing a safe operating space for maintaining long-term ecosystem health and productivity.

Sources (1)

Preview of Al-Beidh, S., & Al-Tawaha, A. R. M. (2023). Basic Properties and Mineralogy of Soils and Their Impact on the Growth of Jarrah Forest in Southwestern Australia. Land, 12(6), 1236.
Al-Beidh, S., & Al-Tawaha, A. R. M. (2023). Basic Properties and Mineralogy of Soils and Their Impact on the Growth of Jarrah Forest in Southwestern Australia. Land, 12(6), 1236. Journal

Soil Characteristics and Fertility of the Unique Jarrah Forest of Southwestern Australia, with Particular Consideration of Plant Nutrition and Land Rehabilitation - MDPI, accessed July 19, 2025,

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Review of C:N Ratios in Vegetation, Litter and Soil Under Australian Native Forests and Plantations - DCCEEW
Review of C:N Ratios in Vegetation, Litter and Soil Under Australian Native Forests and Plantations - DCCEEW
Contextual Support Journal

Review of C:N Ratios in Vegetation, Litter and Soil ... - DCCEEW

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Represents a safe operating space for maintaining long-term ecosystem health and productivity.

Related Benchmarks

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

1000 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Active v1
500 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
MinimumOnly Active v1
2000 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
MaximumOnly Active v1