Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TSW-AGR-SEC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

4 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.

Evidence & Context

Severe Degradation Threshold > 4.0 dS/m classified as saline soil with significant yield loss and potential irreversible damage.

Metric Definition:

Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC) measured as ECe (saturated paste extract)

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark marks the maximum soil electrical conductivity threshold indicating severe soil salinity and major ecological harm in agricultural soils.

Justification:

At and above this level, severe yield losses occur, many native species cannot survive, and sodicity risk is high.

Sources (2)

Preview of Soil electrical conductivity (EC) is a measure of the amount ... - USDA

Soil electrical conductivity (EC) is a measure of the amount ... - USDA Journal

Regenerative Agriculture - NSW Department of Primary Industries

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Preview of Which material can be used to reduce electrical conductivity of soil? And what are the disadvantages when electrical conductivity of soil increases ? | ResearchGate, accessed July 9, 2025,

Which material can be used to reduce electrical conductivity of soil? And what are the disadvantages when electrical conductivity of soil increases ? | ResearchGate, accessed July 9, 2025, GreyLiterature

UNDERSTANDING YOUR STEP BY STEP Cath Botta - Goulburn ...

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Supporting Sources (5)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture is key to dry season preparation - Soils For Life, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source

Salinity - Murray�darling Basin Authority

Contextual Support Journal

Salinity - Murray–Darling Basin Authority

View Source

Soil - RegenWA

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil - RegenWA

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Soil Health Assessment - Natural Resources Conservation Service - USDA, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Soil Health Assessment - Natural Resources Conservation Service - USDA

View Source

Stream-salinity-status-and-trends-in-south-west-WA.pdf - Government of Western Australia, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Stream-salinity-status-and-trends-in-south-west-WA.pdf - Government of Western Australia, accessed July 10, 2025

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 3
Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

Represents a state of severe ecosystem degradation. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSW-AGR-SEC family.