Soil Structure & Compaction

AUS-TMS-LVG-SSC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

2000 kPa

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: MinimumOnly

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

Root elongation for most plant species begins to be significantly impeded when soil penetration resistance reaches approximately 2000 kPa.

Metric Definition:

Penetrometer resistance threshold above which root elongation is significantly impeded, indicating harmful soil compaction.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark marks the critical soil compaction threshold in Australian Tropical Monsoonal Savannas beyond which root growth is significantly impeded, indicating ecological harm.

Justification:

This threshold is widely accepted in soil science literature as the point where root growth is impeded, marking the onset of ecological harm due to compaction.

Sources (1)

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, Government

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

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Supporting Sources (11)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of B.ERM.0108 - Wambiana: Grazing strategies and tools to improve profitability and land condition | Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 10, 2025,

B.ERM.0108 - Wambiana: Grazing strategies and tools to improve profitability and land condition | Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Wambiana : Grazing strategies and tools to improve profitability and ...

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Do regenerative grazing management practices ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 12, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Investigating Intensive Grazing Systems in Northern Australia

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Evaluation of soil compaction in an irrigated short-duration grazing system - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Assessment of topsoil properties in integrated crop–livestock and continuous cropping systems under zero tillage - ResearchGate

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Focus Group – Regenerative agriculture for soil health - EU CAP Network

Contextual Support Journal

grazing - in THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS

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Focus Group – Regenerative agriculture for soil health - EU CAP Network

Contextual Support Journal

Focus Group – Regenerative agriculture for soil health - EU CAP Network

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Grazing land management | MLA

Contextual Support Journal

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? - Great Barrier Reef Foundation

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Grazing-management-for-soil-carbon-in-Australia-A-review.pdf - University of Tasmania, accessed on June 7, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

www.utas.edu.au, accessed May 11, 2025

View Source

Impact of Deferred Versus Continuous Sheep Grazing on Soil Compaction in the Mediterranean Montado Ecosystem - MDPI

Contextual Support Journal

Impact of Deferred Versus Continuous Sheep Grazing on Soil Compaction in the Mediterranean Montado Ecosystem - MDPI

View Source

Litchfield Savanna SuperSite | Fire Regime Impact - TERN Australia, accessed July 24, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Land Ecosystem Atmosphere Program (LEAP) - Litchfield Supersite - Resources - The University of Western Australia

View Source

Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services - Frontiers, accessed July 30, 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, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 10, 2025,

View Source

Prediction of the penetrometer resistance of soils with models of few parameters | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Final report Scoping Study of Soil Management in Livestock Grazing Systems

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

Penetrometer resistance values exceeding 2000 kPa are considered critically high, significantly restricting root growth and reducing water infiltration, negatively impacting ecosystem health. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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