Soil Potassium

AUS-TSW-FOR-SOK General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 120 to 390 mg/kg

Optimal Range: 120 to 390

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: OptimalRange

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 10 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 9 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary OptimalRange Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

The optimal functional range for available soil potassium in a sustainably managed production forest within this biome is determined to be 120 to 390 mg/kg.

Metric Definition:

Exchangeable potassium in soil measured as mg/kg, representing plant-available potassium.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the optimal functional range of exchangeable soil potassium supporting ecological health and sustainable production forestry in the temperate semi-arid shrublands and open woodlands biome.

Justification:

Range is based on levels considered moderate to ideal for productive pastures and commercial forestry requirements.

Sources (1)

Preview of Does rapid utilization of elevated nutrient availability allow eucalypts to dominate in the tropical savannas of Australia? - PubMed Central, accessed May 11, 2025,

Does rapid utilization of elevated nutrient availability allow eucalypts to dominate in the tropical savannas of Australia? - PubMed Central, accessed May 11, 2025, Journal

General soil fertility guides and commercial forestry studies

View Source

Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Agronomic studies in Australia for grain crops and general soil fertility guides for NSW and WA

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Agronomic studies in Australia for grain crops and general soil fertility guides for NSW and WA

View Source

Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 12, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

OzFlux-TERN GWW SuperSite presentation: Soil Chemical Properties

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 25 Mar 2026

Notes

Sites within this range have robust nutrient status supporting productivity and resilience.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSW-FOR-SOK family.