Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-AMR-CON-SEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.05 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.

Evidence & Context

A soil ECe value of < 0.05 dS/m is proposed as this lower critical threshold.

Metric Definition:

Lower Critical Threshold for soil electrical conductivity (EC) indicating risk of nutrient poverty

Benchmark Definition:

The lower boundary below which nutrient poverty may limit ecosystem function in the Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands biome.

Justification:

Below this level, there is a significant risk that nutrient availability is insufficient to sustain core ecosystem processes.

Sources (1)

Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - esoil.io, accessed July 13, 2025

Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - esoil.io, accessed July 13, 2025 Government

UPTAKE OF ARSENIC BY NATIVE PLANTS GROWING ON GOLD TAILINGS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIAN RANGELANDS1

View Source

Supporting Sources (5)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

A BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE FLINDERS RANGES SOUTH AUSTRALIA - Enviro Data SA

Contextual Support Journal

A BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE FLINDERS RANGES SOUTH AUSTRALIA - Enviro Data SA, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

Alice Mulga SuperSite | Soil & Vegetation Monitoring - TERN Australia, accessed July 22, 2025,

Direct Evidence Government

Great Western Woodlands, Ground Water Data, 2014 - TERN Data Discovery Portal, accessed July 10, 2025,

View Source

MacDonnell Ranges bioregion - DCCEEW

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Constraints in an Arid Environment—Challenges, Prospects ...

View Source

Soil Electrical Conductivity - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed May 16, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

USDA 12

View Source

TERN Soil Data Federator - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed May 16, 2025,

Direct Evidence Government

TERN Soil Data Federator - CSIRO Data Access Portal

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

Indicates a soil so impoverished of soluble mineral ions that it may be critically deficient in essential nutrients, compromising ecosystem function and resilience.

Related Benchmarks

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