Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-ASP-AGR-SEC General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

0.2 dS/m

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 17 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 16 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard UpperThreshold Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

A lower critical threshold of <0.2 dS/m indicates potential nutrient limitation for plants and microbes.

Metric Definition:

Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC) measured as the saturated paste extract (ECe) indicating soil salinity and nutrient availability.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark marks the lower critical threshold below which nutrient limitation impairs ecosystem function in arid agricultural soils.

Justification:

Inferred from agronomic science and ecological relevance indicating impaired microbial nutrient cycling below this EC level.

Sources (1)

Synthesis of data from Soilquality.org.au and established salinity thresholds (ANZECC & ARMCANZ, 2000) GreyLiterature

Synthesis of data from Soilquality.org.au and established salinity thresholds (ANZECC & ARMCANZ, 2000)

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Salt tolerance of crops - Wikipedia

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Salt tolerance of crops - Wikipedia

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Shrublands & Stony Plains
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

Values below this threshold indicate nutrient-starved soil conditions detrimental to microbial and plant health. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-ASP-AGR-SEC family.