Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TSW-CON-SEC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 0.02 to 0.03 dS/m

Optimal Range: 0.02 to 0.03

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

CompositeFramework Primary Point Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The mean EC for the unmined reference sites was 0.03 dS/m, a level explicitly described as "unlikely to impact plant growth". More detailed measurements from three separate transects within the Woodland reference site itself yielded values of 0.03, 0.02, and 0.03 dS/m. This provides a tightly constrained, real-world observed range of 0.02–0.03 dS/m (measured in a standard 1:5 soil:water suspension) for a site in the best available condition.

Metric Definition:

Soil electrical conductivity (EC) is a measure of the ability of the soil solution to conduct an electrical current, reported in units of deciSiemens per meter (dS/m).

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the typical soil electrical conductivity range observed in pristine, unmined woodland sites in the biome, indicating soil conditions unlikely to impact plant growth.

Justification:

This benchmark is derived from direct field measurements at a high-integrity, unmined 'Woodland' reference site in Western Australia, representing a healthy, functioning ecosystem with stable, non-saline soil conditions.

Sources (1)

IR488 - Revegetation of Nabarlek minesite Preliminary ... - DCCEEW Journal

IR488 - Revegetation of Nabarlek minesite Preliminary ... - DCCEEW

View Source

Supporting Sources (13)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

A Biodiverse Land | Western Australian Museum

Contextual Support Government

A Biodiverse Land | Western Australian Museum

View Source

Australia's bioregions (IBRA) - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025

Contextual Support

Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA), Version 7 (Regions)

View Source

Categories - Electrical Conductivity - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed May 13, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Save Our Soils - Soil Science Australia

View Source

Elsevier Editorial System(tm) for Journal of Arid Environments ...

Contextual Support Journal

Elsevier Editorial System(tm) for Journal of Arid Environments ...

View Source

Establishing Self-sustaining and Recognisable Ecological ... - Umwelt, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Mine Rehabilitation to Central Hunter Valley Eucalypt Forest and Woodland CEEC: A Comparative Assessment of Rehabilitation and Reference Sites (ACARP Project C26034)

View Source

Great Western Woodlands - DBCA Library

Contextual Support Journal

A Biodiversity and Cultural Conservation Strategy for the Great Western Woodlands - DBCA Library

View Source

Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia - Wikipedia, accessed July 13, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Category:IBRA regions - Wikipedia

View Source

Research on Soil Management and Conservation - MDPI

Direct Evidence Journal

Research on Soil Management and Conservation - MDPI

View Source

Reviews of High Priority Species for Woody Biomass Crops in Lower Rainfall Southern Australia - Enviro Data SA

Contextual Support Journal

Reviews of High Priority Species for Woody Biomass Crops in Lower Rainfall Southern Australia - Enviro Data SA

View Source

Semi-arid woodlands (shrubby sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science, accessed July 12, 2025, )

Contextual Support Government

Semi-arid woodlands (grassy sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science

View Source

Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source

Woodlands Declaration - ResearchGate

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Woodlands Declaration - ResearchGate

View Source

Woodlands of Australia - A biography of the Australian continent

Contextual Support Journal

Woodlands of Australia - A biography of the Australian continent

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

This range represents the best available condition for the biome's dominant non-clayey soils, measured in a 1:5 soil:water suspension. It is a direct empirical measurement, not a theoretical ideal.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSW-CON-SEC family.