Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TMI-LVG-SEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

2 dS/m
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. The scoring engine uses 2 benchmarks together — the MaximumOnly form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

MaximumOnly Primary MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Proposed Threshold: An upper detrimental threshold of ECe​>2.0 dS/m is proposed.

Metric Definition:

Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC) measured as ECe, the saturation extract electrical conductivity of the soil.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark marks the upper detrimental threshold above which nutrient runoff risk and ecological degradation occur in tropical maritime island grazing systems.

Justification:

Based on ecological management goals prioritizing water quality and nutrient containment in a high-rainfall maritime island environment.

Sources (2)

Preview of Managing cattle grazing on Norfolk Island tos enhance water quality - Agronomist visit
Managing cattle grazing on Norfolk Island tos enhance water quality - Agronomist visit Government

Norfolk Island Public Land Grazing Management Strategy

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Preview of Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ..., accessed May 12, 2025
Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ..., accessed May 12, 2025 Government

Agriculture Victoria. (2025). Understanding soil tests for pastures. Farm Management.

View Source

Supporting Sources (39)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 1370.0 - Measures of Australia's Progress, 2010 - Australian Bureau of Statistics, accessed July 28, 2025, ) Salinity - The University of Western Australia, accessed July 28, 2025
1370.0 - Measures of Australia's Progress, 2010 - Australian Bureau of Statistics, accessed July 28, 2025, ) Salinity - The University of Western Australia, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Government

1370.0 - Measures of Australia's Progress, 2010 - Australian Bureau of Statistics, accessed July 28, 2025, ) Salinity - The University of Western Australia, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of 229-2025: Consultation on potential measures for bringing or importing live animals and animal products into Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands - DAFF, accessed July 28, 2025
229-2025: Consultation on potential measures for bringing or importing live animals and animal products into Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands - DAFF, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Government

229-2025: Consultation on potential measures for bringing or importing live animals and animal products into Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands - DAFF, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of All About Salinity - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 11, 2025
All About Salinity - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support

All About Salinity - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of Animal Management | Torres Strait Island Regional Council, accessed July 28, 2025
Animal Management | Torres Strait Island Regional Council, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support

Animal Management | Torres Strait Island Regional Council, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Beef cattle return to Lord Howe Island - The Farmer Magazine, accessed July 28, 2025
Beef cattle return to Lord Howe Island - The Farmer Magazine, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Managing Cattle Grazing on Norfolk Island, accessed July 28, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Categories - Land use and environmental planning - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed July 28, 2025
Categories - Land use and environmental planning - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Soil nutrient critical limits | MBFP | More Beef from Pastures

View Source
Preview of Ecological Regions Of Australia - WorldAtlas, accessed July 27, 2025,
Ecological Regions Of Australia - WorldAtlas, accessed July 27, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Ecological Regions Of Australia - WorldAtlas, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of final report - FutureBeef, accessed July 28, 2025
final report - FutureBeef, accessed July 28, 2025
Direct Evidence Journal

final report - FutureBeef, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Graziers contribute to preserving the Great Barrier Reef
Graziers contribute to preserving the Great Barrier Reef
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Graziers contribute to preserving the Great Barrier Reef

View Source
Preview of How do we drive a renaissance for national island conservation in Australia?, accessed July 28, 2025
How do we drive a renaissance for national island conservation in Australia?, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

How do we drive a renaissance for national island conservation in Australia?, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of How regenerative farming practices are revolutionising biodiversity in agriculture - Institute of Sustainability Studies, accessed July 25, 2025,
How regenerative farming practices are revolutionising biodiversity in agriculture - Institute of Sustainability Studies, accessed July 25, 2025,
Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

managing cattle grazing on norfolk island to enhance water quality - MEDIA RELEASE

View Source
Preview of How regenerative farming practices are revolutionising biodiversity in agriculture - Institute of Sustainability Studies, accessed July 28, 2025
How regenerative farming practices are revolutionising biodiversity in agriculture - Institute of Sustainability Studies, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative Agriculture - EARTHDAY.ORG, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Impacts of salinity | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed May 13, 2025,
Impacts of salinity | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed May 13, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Recommended Measurements for Scaling Soil Health Assessment

View Source
Preview of Land management for graziers | Business Queensland, accessed August 8, 2025
Land management for graziers | Business Queensland, accessed August 8, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Managing Gully Erosion - NQ Dry Tropics

View Source
Preview of Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan - DCCEEW, accessed August 3, 2025,
Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan - DCCEEW, accessed August 3, 2025,
Direct Evidence

Norfolk Island Subtropical Forests | One Earth, accessed August 2, 2025

View Source
Preview of Lord Howe Island Education Kit, accessed July 28, 2025
Lord Howe Island Education Kit, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Reassembling island ecosystems: The case of Lord Howe Island - ResearchGate, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Managing Cattle Grazing on Norfolk Island to Enhance Water Quality, accessed July 28, 2025
Managing Cattle Grazing on Norfolk Island to Enhance Water Quality, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Managing Cattle Grazing on Norfolk Island to Enhance Water Quality, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Managing cattle grazing on Norfolk Island tos enhance water quality - Agronomist visit, accessed July 28, 2025
Managing cattle grazing on Norfolk Island tos enhance water quality - Agronomist visit, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Managing Cattle Grazing on Norfolk Island to Enhance Water Quality, accessed July 28, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services - Frontiers, accessed July 30, 2025,
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
Preview of Norfolk Island - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025,
Norfolk Island - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support

Norfolk Island - Wikipedia

View Source
Preview of Norfolk Island Environmental Assessment, accessed August 3, 2025,
Norfolk Island Environmental Assessment, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Agricultural Audit and Land Use Capability Assessment for Norfolk Island | Policy Commons

View Source
Preview of Norfolk Island Water Quality Assessment - CSIRO, accessed August 4, 2025,
Norfolk Island Water Quality Assessment - CSIRO, accessed August 4, 2025,
Direct Evidence Government

Norfolk Island Water Quality Assessment - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed August 4, 2025

View Source
Preview of Norfolk Island Water Resource Assessment project | Department of ..., accessed August 4, 2025,
Norfolk Island Water Resource Assessment project | Department of ..., accessed August 4, 2025,
Direct Evidence

Norfolk Island Water Resource Assessment project | Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

View Source
Preview of Norfolk Island Water Resource Assessment, accessed July 28, 2025
Norfolk Island Water Resource Assessment, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Norfolk Island Water Resource Assessment, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Norfolk Island Water Resource Assessment, accessed July 30, 2025,
Norfolk Island Water Resource Assessment, accessed July 30, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Climate-Affected Australian Tropical Montane Cloud Forest Plants: Metabolomic Profiles, Isolated Phytochemicals, and Bioactivities - PubMed Central

View Source
Preview of PFAS Ongoing Monitoring Plan - Year 2 Monitoring Report - Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, accessed July 28, 2025
PFAS Ongoing Monitoring Plan - Year 2 Monitoring Report - Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, accessed July 28, 2025
Direct Evidence Journal

PFAS Ongoing Monitoring Plan - Year 2 Monitoring Report - Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Rapid internal drainage rates in Ferrosols | Request PDF, accessed July 28, 2025
Rapid internal drainage rates in Ferrosols | Request PDF, accessed July 28, 2025
Irrelevant Government

Regenerative Agriculture - Norfolk FWAG, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers
Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers

View Source
Preview of Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review, accessed August 5, 2025,
Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Rangeland Soil Quality: Infiltration - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil Analysis Results for Pastures - Northern Territory Government, accessed July 28, 2025
Soil Analysis Results for Pastures - Northern Territory Government, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Analysis Results for Pastures - Northern Territory Government

View Source
Preview of Soil Electrical Conductivity - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed May 16, 2025,
Soil Electrical Conductivity - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed May 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

USDA 12

View Source
Preview of Soil electrical conductivity (EC) is a measure of the amount ... - USDA
Soil electrical conductivity (EC) is a measure of the amount ... - USDA
Direct Evidence Journal

Regenerative Agriculture - NSW Department of Primary Industries

View Source
Preview of Soil Electrical Conductivity | South Dakota Soil Health Coalition, accessed July 28, 2025
Soil Electrical Conductivity | South Dakota Soil Health Coalition, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

How salinity is measured - NSW Department of Primary Industries

View Source
Preview of Soil Salinity in Australia (2001) - CSIROpedia, accessed July 28, 2025
Soil Salinity in Australia (2001) - CSIROpedia, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Soil Salinity Explained, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of The farmers of Lord Howe Island - The Farmer Magazine
The farmers of Lord Howe Island - The Farmer Magazine
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The farmers of Lord Howe Island - The Farmer Magazine

View Source
Preview of The Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan: An integrated approach to recovery planning - ResearchGate, accessed August 3, 2025,
The Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan: An integrated approach to recovery planning - ResearchGate, accessed August 3, 2025,
Direct Evidence

The Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan: An integrated approach to recovery planning - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of The Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication: Social and Technical Lessons for Inhabited Islands - DigitalCommons@USU, accessed August 3, 2025,
The Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication: Social and Technical Lessons for Inhabited Islands - DigitalCommons@USU, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support

Government funding to increase biosecurity measures - Lord Howe Island Museum, accessed August 2, 2025

View Source
Preview of The Soil Health Principles of Regenerative Agriculture - Frantoio Grove, accessed July 25, 2025,
The Soil Health Principles of Regenerative Agriculture - Frantoio Grove, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services - Frontiers, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of The Soil Health Principles of Regenerative Agriculture - Frantoio Grove, accessed July 28, 2025
The Soil Health Principles of Regenerative Agriculture - Frantoio Grove, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Regenerative Agriculture at Rocking Chair Farm - DCCEEW, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Represents a state of nutrient overload and failure of sustainable grazing management, posing pollution risk to sensitive marine ecosystems. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMI-LVG-SEC family.

1 dS/m Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Not Stated
MaximumOnly Active v1
0.5 dS/m Low
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Not Stated
MinimumOnly Active v1
— dS/m Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Not Stated
OptimalRange Active v1