Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)
Benchmark Value
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 3 benchmarks together — the MinimumOnly form drives the primary score, while 2 guard(s) constrain the result.
Contributing Benchmarks
Evidence & Context
A conservative upper threshold of >2.0 dS/m (EC 1:5) is therefore proposed as the limit for a healthy ecosystem. It signals a significant failure of hydrological control and the definitive onset of secondary salinisation processes that are known to cause ecological damage.
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).
This benchmark marks the upper soil electrical conductivity limit beyond which ecological damage from secondary salinisation is expected in the biome's conservation areas.
Based on observed stress in native flora and a nearly 100-fold increase from the reference benchmark, this threshold marks the transition from healthy to degraded ecosystem.
Sources (1)
Research on Soil Management and Conservation - MDPI
View SourceSupporting Sources (13)
Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.
A Biodiverse Land | Western Australian Museum
View SourceInterim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA), Version 7 (Regions)
View SourceSave Our Soils - Soil Science Australia
View SourceElsevier Editorial System(tm) for Journal of Arid Environments ...
View SourceMine Rehabilitation to Central Hunter Valley Eucalypt Forest and Woodland CEEC: A Comparative Assessment of Rehabilitation and Reference Sites (ACARP Project C26034)
View SourceA Biodiversity and Cultural Conservation Strategy for the Great Western Woodlands - DBCA Library
View SourceCategory:IBRA regions - Wikipedia
View Source
IR488 - Revegetation of Nabarlek minesite Preliminary ... - DCCEEW
View Source
Reviews of High Priority Species for Woody Biomass Crops in Lower Rainfall Southern Australia - Enviro Data SA
View SourceSemi-arid woodlands (grassy sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science
View SourceWoodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025,
View Source
Woodlands Declaration - ResearchGate
View SourceWoodlands of Australia - A biography of the Australian continent
View Source