Soil Structure & Compaction

AUS-TDG-LVG-SSC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

500 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 GRDC factsheet on high soil strength provides such a guideline, stating that a penetration resistance of <500 kPa (equivalent to <0.5 MPa), when measured in a uniformly wet soil profile, is considered "Not compacted. Loose. Not affected" with respect to root growth.

Metric Definition:

Soil penetrometer resistance indicating soil compaction level affecting root growth and soil physical condition.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the maximum soil penetration resistance below which soil is considered not compacted, allowing healthy root growth and favorable soil physical conditions in temperate dry woodlands and native grasslands under livestock grazing.

Justification:

This value is adopted from general agricultural guidelines where it signifies a 'Not compacted. Loose. Root growth not affected' state when measured at field capacity.

Supporting Sources (5)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

high soil strength - fact sheet

Direct Evidence

GRDC National Paddock Survey. Fact Sheet: High soil strength - Diagnosing soil constraints.

View Source

Identifying soil compaction - Department of Agriculture and Food

Direct Evidence

Critical Limits for Soybean and Black Bean Root Growth, Based on ...

View Source

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

Contextual Support Journal

Pasture growth

View Source

openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au, accessed May 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au

View Source

Pasture yield and soil physical property responses to soil compaction from treading and grazing — a review - ANU Open Research

Contextual Support Journal

Pasture yield and soil physical property responses to soil compaction from treading and grazing — a review - ANU Open Research

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

This is proposed as an aspirational target representing minimal soil compaction conducive to healthy root growth and favorable soil physical functions, essential for ecosystem health in this biome. Confidence is moderate for general soil physical condition but low for specific ecological optimum due to lack of targeted studies. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TDG-LVG-SSC family.