Soil Structure & Compaction

AUS-TGP-CON-SSC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

2000 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

A penetrometer resistance exceeding 2000 kPa indicates a severely degraded state where the soil is effectively impenetrable to the roots of many native plants.

Metric Definition:

Penetrometer resistance indicating severe soil compaction measured in kilopascals (kPa).

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark marks the upper detrimental threshold of soil compaction in temperate grassy woodlands and plains under conservation management, beyond which severe degradation occurs.

Justification:

Supported by multiple lines of evidence including soil health protocols and experimental studies on root penetration and plant mortality.

Sources (1)

Preview of Soil compaction and the architectural plasticity of root systems - PMC, accessed July 22, 2025,
Soil compaction and the architectural plasticity of root systems - PMC, accessed July 22, 2025, GreyLiterature

Soil compaction and the architectural plasticity of root systems - PMC, accessed July 22, 2025

View Source

Supporting Sources (31)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) The effect of soil compaction on germination and early growth ..., accessed August 4, 2025,
(PDF) The effect of soil compaction on germination and early growth ..., accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

The effect of soil compaction on germination and early growth of Eucalyptus albens and an exotic annual grass - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of A Global Meta-Analysis of Grazing Impacts on Soil Health Indicators - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025
A Global Meta-Analysis of Grazing Impacts on Soil Health Indicators - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

A Global Meta-Analysis of Grazing Impacts on Soil Health Indicators - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of A Global Meta-Analysis of Grazing Impacts on Soil Health Indicators - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,
A Global Meta-Analysis of Grazing Impacts on Soil Health Indicators - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Sward lifting in compacted grassland: effects on soil structure, grass rooting and productivity. - CABI Digital Library

View Source
Preview of An Updated Australian Soil Classification Map | TERN Australia, accessed on June 5, 2025
An Updated Australian Soil Classification Map | TERN Australia, accessed on June 5, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Accessing disparate soil data | TERN Australia

View Source
Preview of Australia's protected areas - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025,
Australia's protected areas - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database: protected area data - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of Australian Soils and Landscapes | Monitoring & Data | TERN - esoil.io, accessed August 11, 2025
Australian Soils and Landscapes | Monitoring & Data | TERN - esoil.io, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Australian Soils and Landscapes | Monitoring & Data | TERN - esoil.io

View Source
Preview of Biodiversity Conservation Trust Livestock grazing guidelines, accessed August 6, 2025
Biodiversity Conservation Trust Livestock grazing guidelines, accessed August 6, 2025
Contextual Support

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au, accessed April 29, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Box Gum Grassy Woodland - Local Land Services - NSW Government, accessed August 9, 2025
Box Gum Grassy Woodland - Local Land Services - NSW Government, accessed August 9, 2025
Contextual Support Government

GRASSLANDS & GRASSY WOODLANDS - Corangamite Catchment Management Authority

View Source
Preview of Comparison of grazed and cleared temperate grassy woodlands in eastern Australia: patterns in space and inferences in time - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,
Comparison of grazed and cleared temperate grassy woodlands in eastern Australia: patterns in space and inferences in time - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Comparison of grazed and cleared temperate grassy woodlands in eastern Australia: patterns in space and inferences in time - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Conservation at Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve - Suzanne Orr, accessed August 11, 2025
Conservation at Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve - Suzanne Orr, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Conservation at Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve - Suzanne Orr

View Source
Preview of Critical review of the impacts of grazing intensity on soil organic carbon storage and other soil quality indicators in extensively managed grasslands - PubMed Central, accessed August 11, 2025
Critical review of the impacts of grazing intensity on soil organic carbon storage and other soil quality indicators in extensively managed grasslands - PubMed Central, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Critical review of the impacts of grazing intensity on soil organic carbon storage and other soil quality indicators in extensively managed grasslands - PubMed Central

View Source
Preview of Critical review of the impacts of grazing intensity on soil organic carbon storage and other soil quality indicators in extensively managed grasslands - PubMed Central, accessed August 5, 2025,
Critical review of the impacts of grazing intensity on soil organic carbon storage and other soil quality indicators in extensively managed grasslands - PubMed Central, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Biodiversity Conservation Trust Livestock grazing guidelines

View Source
Preview of Environmental Stewardship - Box Gum Grassy Woodland Project - Information Booklet - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Environmental Stewardship - Box Gum Grassy Woodland Project - Information Booklet - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

The Nature of Soil - Local Land Services

View Source
Preview of GRASSLANDS & GRASSY WOODLANDS - Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, accessed August 5, 2025,
GRASSLANDS & GRASSY WOODLANDS - Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate ...

View Source
Preview of How Does Soil Compaction Impact Grazing Lands? - ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture, accessed August 11, 2025
How Does Soil Compaction Impact Grazing Lands? - ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil compaction - practical considerations - Forest Research

View Source
Preview of Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,
Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states - ResearchGate, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Indigenous land management in Australia: extent, scope, diversity, barriers and success factors - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed August 11, 2025
Indigenous land management in Australia: extent, scope, diversity, barriers and success factors - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil - CSIRO

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Preview of Management approaches | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 11, 2025
Management approaches | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Management approaches | Australia state of the environment 2021

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Preview of Mulligans Flat
Mulligans Flat
Contextual Support Journal

Mulligans Flat

View Source
Preview of National Soil Monitoring Program - CSIRO, accessed August 4, 2025,
National Soil Monitoring Program - CSIRO, accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

National Soil Monitoring Program - CSIRO, accessed July 8, 2025

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Preview of National Soil Monitoring Program | NRM North, accessed August 11, 2025
National Soil Monitoring Program | NRM North, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

National Soil Monitoring Program | NRM North

View Source
Preview of NVIS Fact sheet MVG 5 – Eucalypt woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,
NVIS Fact sheet MVG 5 – Eucalypt woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Approved Conservation Advice for the White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of Overgrazing & Reducing Grazing Pressure | Bush Heritage Australia, accessed August 11, 2025
Overgrazing & Reducing Grazing Pressure | Bush Heritage Australia, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Reshaping forest management in Australia to provide nature-based solutions to global challenges, accessed July 24, 2025,

View Source
Preview of PENETRATION RESISTANCE - CIMMYT Repository, accessed August 11, 2025
PENETRATION RESISTANCE - CIMMYT Repository, accessed August 11, 2025
Irrelevant

PENETRATION RESISTANCE - CIMMYT Repository

View Source
Preview of Research — Mulligans Flat
Research — Mulligans Flat
Contextual Support Government

Research — Mulligans Flat

View Source
Preview of Research — Mulligans Flat, accessed August 11, 2025
Research — Mulligans Flat, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The feral animal exclusion fence in Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve. Photo, A. Manning. - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Soil Health Assessment Part IV: Soil Penetration Resistance and Plant Roots – Soil and Water Conservation Laboratory Manual - New Prairie Press Open Book Publishing, accessed August 11, 2025
Soil Health Assessment Part IV: Soil Penetration Resistance and Plant Roots – Soil and Water Conservation Laboratory Manual - New Prairie Press Open Book Publishing, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

The Influence of Compaction and Soil Strength on the Establishment of Four Australian Landscape Trees | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of The effects of compaction and soil drying on penetrometer resistance - ResearchGate, accessed August 2, 2025,
The effects of compaction and soil drying on penetrometer resistance - ResearchGate, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

soils - of the australian alps

View Source
Preview of Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,
Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of www.forestresearch.gov.uk, accessed August 11, 2025
www.forestresearch.gov.uk, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support Government

www.forestresearch.gov.uk

View Source
Preview of Yellow Box – Red Gum Grassy Woodland, accessed August 12, 2025,
Yellow Box – Red Gum Grassy Woodland, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Indicator W3: Water quality - ACT State of the Environment

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 2
  • Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

This threshold marks severe degradation with high risk of plant mortality and ecosystem collapse.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-CON-SSC family.

1000 kPa Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
MaximumOnly Active v1
— kPa Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
OptimalRange Active v1