Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)
Benchmark Value
Scoring Curve
The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is Point, 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.
Evidence & Context
The benchmark for high ecological health is therefore defined by the EC range corresponding to the 'Low' salinity rating. This benchmark is dependent on soil texture, with ranges: Sandy/Sandy Loam (10–20% clay): 0.07–0.15 dS/m; Loam/Clay Loam (20–40% clay): 0.09–0.19 dS/m; Clay (40–60% clay): 0.12–0.24 dS/m.
Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC) is a measure of the ability of a soil solution to conduct an electrical current, directly proportional to the concentration of dissolved ions or salts in the soil water.
The soil electrical conductivity benchmark for Sandy/Sandy Loam soils (10–20% clay) indicates the upper limit of the optimal range for low salinity and high ecological health in tropical grazing pastures.
The benchmark represents the 'Low' salinity rating for grazing lands, which is the best available condition in this high-rainfall, leached biome.
Sources (2)
Tropical Grasslands (1997) Volume 31, 364–369 - Opportunities for landscape stabilisation and revegetating disturbed lands in stressful environments with exotic or native forages, accessed July 18, 2025
View SourceProductive soils in the grazing enterprise - FutureBeef, accessed July 18, 2025
View SourceSupporting Sources (9)
Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.
(PDF) Comparison of Soil EC Values from Methods Based on 1:1 and 1:5 Soil to Water Ratios and ECe from Saturated Paste Extract Based Method - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025
View SourceCation exchange capacity - CBX Products, accessed July 18, 2025
View SourceEvaluation of Soil Chemical Properties under Paddy Production System in Central Kenya: Soil Exchangeable Cations - Semantic Scholar, accessed July 18, 2025
View SourceExperimental observation of signature changes in bulk soil electrical, accessed July 18, 2025
View SourceRegenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed July 20, 2025,
View SourceDo regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation ..., accessed July 18, 2025
View SourceELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY, BASIC CATIONS AND ORGANIC MATTER CONTENT OF SOILS UNDER DIFFERENT LAND USE PRACTICES IN AKWA IBOM STATE - African - British Journals, accessed July 18, 2025
View SourceSoil Health Card - Wet Tropics Plan, accessed July 18, 2025
View SourceSoil Health Card Grazing draft5-2-09, accessed July 18, 2025
View Source