Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-AIF-LVG-SEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

1 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 4 benchmarks together — the MaximumOnly form drives the primary score, while 3 guard(s) constrain the result.

Evidence & Context

A soil with an ECe of less than 1.0 dS/m would be in equilibrium with low-salinity floodwaters, would be well within the international "non-saline" classification, and would be low enough to pose no osmotic stress to the full suite of native floodplain vegetation.

Metric Definition:

Soil Electrical Conductivity (ECe) in the topsoil (0-30 cm) of cracking clay soils

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the maximum soil electrical conductivity in the topsoil of cracking clay soils that indicates a non-saline state where secondary salinisation is not occurring and the hydrological cycle remains intact in the arid inland floodplains.

Justification:

This value is derived from a weight-of-evidence synthesis including the MDBA water quality guideline and USDA soil classification, representing a 'non-saline' soil state in equilibrium with low salinity floodwaters.

Sources (1)

Preview of Salinity - Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed August 11, 2025,
Salinity - Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed August 11, 2025, Government

Salinity | Murray–Darling Basin Authority

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

Applies to the dominant cracking clay soils of the region under best-practice grazing management. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.