Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-TDG-FOR-SOC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Thresholds: Lower: 1.5, Upper: —

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: LowerThreshold

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 13 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 12 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

Lower Critical Threshold: While no specific quantitative threshold exists for this exact context, SOC levels falling significantly below the natural range for the soil type (e.g., <1.5-2% for many temperate woodland soils, dependent on texture) likely compromise soil functions like microbial activity, water retention, and productivity.

Metric Definition:

Soil Organic Carbon concentration below which essential soil functions and ecological health are significantly compromised.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark indicates the lower critical Soil Organic Carbon concentration below which soil functions and ecological health in temperate woodland soils are likely compromised.

Justification:

General soil science principles indicate that SOC levels falling significantly below the natural range for a given soil type and climate (potentially <1.5-2% SOC for many temperate woodland soils, varying with texture) would likely lead to compromised soil functions, including reduced microbial diversity, water holding capacity, nutrient cycling, and productivity.

Sources (1)

Preview of Challenges for Soil Organic Carbon Research - ResearchGate

Challenges for Soil Organic Carbon Research - ResearchGate GreyLiterature

Challenges for Soil Organic Carbon Research - ResearchGate

Supporting Sources (39)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) The effect of soil compaction on germination and early growth ..., accessed August 4, 2025,

(PDF) The effect of soil compaction on germination and early growth ..., accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil compaction - practical considerations - Forest Research, accessed August 11, 2025

Preview of Addressing the rundown of nitrogen and soil organic carbon - GRDC, accessed July 25, 2025,

Addressing the rundown of nitrogen and soil organic carbon - GRDC, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

CRITICAL SOIL ORGANIC CARBON RANGE FOR OPTIMAL CROP RESPONSE TO MINERAL FERTILISER NITROGEN ON A FERRALSOL | Experimental Agriculture - Cambridge University Press

Preview of Australia's Sustainable Forest Management - DAFF, accessed August 28, 2025,

Australia's Sustainable Forest Management - DAFF, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Australia's Sustainable Forest Management - DAFF, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Australia's Sustainable Forest Management - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,

Australia's Sustainable Forest Management - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support

Sustainable forest management: the Australian context - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of Baseline map of organic carbon in Australian soil to support national carbon accounting and monitoring under climate change - PubMed Central, accessed August 5, 2025,

Baseline map of organic carbon in Australian soil to support national carbon accounting and monitoring under climate change - PubMed Central, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Baseline map of organic carbon in Australian soil to support national carbon accounting and monitoring under climate change - PMC, accessed March 28, 2026,

Preview of Change in Organic Carbon in Forest Plantation Soils in Eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025,

Change in Organic Carbon in Forest Plantation Soils in Eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Tamm Review: Influence of forest management activities on soil organic carbon stocks: A knowledge synthesis - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Clumped and isolated trees influence soil nutrient levels in an Australian temperate box woodland (Published as: Prober, S.M., Yates, C.J., Wiehl, G. & Loneragan, W.A. (2004) Clumped and isolated trees influence soil nutrient levels in an Australian temperate box woodland. Plant and Soil, 265, 19-30. Based on Yates, C.J., Prober, S.M., Wiehl, G. & Loneragan, W.A. (2004) data).

Clumped and isolated trees influence soil nutrient levels in an Australian temperate box woodland (Published as: Prober, S.M., Yates, C.J., Wiehl, G. & Loneragan, W.A. (2004) Clumped and isolated trees influence soil nutrient levels in an Australian temperate box woodland. Plant and Soil, 265, 19-30. Based on Yates, C.J., Prober, S.M., Wiehl, G. & Loneragan, W.A. (2004) data).

Direct Evidence

Clumped and isolated trees influence soil nutrient levels in an Australian temperate box woodland (Published as: Prober, S.M., Yates, C.J., Wiehl, G. & Loneragan, W.A. (2004) Clumped and isolated trees influence soil nutrient levels in an Australian temperate box woodland. Plant and Soil, 265, 19-30. Based on Yates, C.J., Prober, S.M., Wiehl, G. & Loneragan, W.A. (2004) data).

Preview of Description | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government

Description | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Carbon Saturation: What Do We Really Know? - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management Criteria and Indicators for the NSW Forest Agreement regions - NSW Environment Protection Authority, accessed August 28, 2025,

Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management Criteria and Indicators for the NSW Forest Agreement regions - NSW Environment Protection Authority, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management Criteria and Indicators for the NSW Forest Agreement regions - NSW Environment Protection Authority, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Effect of Timber Harvesting Techniques and Slopes on Soil Respiration of Young and Mature Black Pine Stands in Northwestern Türkiye - BioResources, accessed August 28, 2025,

Effect of Timber Harvesting Techniques and Slopes on Soil Respiration of Young and Mature Black Pine Stands in Northwestern Türkiye - BioResources, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Effect of Timber Harvesting Techniques and Slopes on Soil Respiration of Young and Mature Black Pine Stands in Northwestern Türkiye - BioResources, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Guidelines for Plantation forestry in south australia 2009 - PIRSA, accessed August 28, 2025,

Guidelines for Plantation forestry in south australia 2009 - PIRSA, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Guidelines for Plantation forestry in south australia 2009 - PIRSA, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of How soil organic matter and carbon work! Data from 500 paired-site comparisons across the northern region - GRDC, accessed August 28, 2025,

How soil organic matter and carbon work! Data from 500 paired-site comparisons across the northern region - GRDC, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

How soil organic matter and carbon work! Data from 500 paired-site comparisons across the northern region - GRDC, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Influence of environmental conditions and some soil chemical properties on the carbon and nitrogen contents of some tropical Australian rainforest soils - Bohrium, accessed August 28, 2025,

Influence of environmental conditions and some soil chemical properties on the carbon and nitrogen contents of some tropical Australian rainforest soils - Bohrium, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Understanding Forest Soil Carbon | Summer 2023 | Articles - Northern Woodlands, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Influence of forest management activities on soil organic carbon stocks_ A knowledge synthesis - Agritrop

Influence of forest management activities on soil organic carbon stocks_ A knowledge synthesis - Agritrop

Contextual Support Journal

Influence of forest management activities on soil organic carbon stocks_ A knowledge synthesis - Agritrop, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of INFLUENCE OF SOIL ORGANIC MATTER ON FOREST PRODUCTIVITY* - Scion Research, accessed August 10, 2025,

INFLUENCE OF SOIL ORGANIC MATTER ON FOREST PRODUCTIVITY* - Scion Research, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

Sustainable forest management and the ecosystem approach - an Australian perspective, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Keith, H., et al. (2009). The impact of harvesting native forests on vegetation and soil C stocks and soil CO2, N2O and CH4 fluxes. Australian Forestry, 72(4), 183-194.

Keith, H., et al. (2009). The impact of harvesting native forests on vegetation and soil C stocks and soil CO2, N2O and CH4 fluxes. Australian Forestry, 72(4), 183-194.

Contextual Support Journal

INCREASED MECHANISATION AND SOIL DAMAGE IN FORESTS — A REVIEW - Scion Research, accessed May 15, 2025

Preview of Land-use history, forest conversion, and soil organic carbon in pine plantations and native forests of south eastern Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

Land-use history, forest conversion, and soil organic carbon in pine plantations and native forests of south eastern Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Change in Organic Carbon in Forest Plantation Soils in Eastern Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

Lifting the Profile of Deep Forest Soil Carbon - MDPI, accessed on June 7, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Lifting the Profile of Deep Forest Soil Carbon - MDPI, accessed August 28, 2025,

$Preview of Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed July 30, 2025$

Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed July 30, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Australian soil carbon map sets a baseline for future gains - CSIRO, accessed March 28, 2026,

Preview of Nutrient distribution and cycling in a subtropical ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 16, 2025,

Nutrient distribution and cycling in a subtropical ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Nutrient distribution and cycling in a subtropical ... - CSIRO Publishing

Preview of Nutrient distribution and cycling in a subtropical rainforest in New South Wales, accessed August 28, 2025,

Nutrient distribution and cycling in a subtropical rainforest in New South Wales, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Nutrient distribution and cycling in a subtropical rainforest in New South Wales, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Refining benchmarks for soil organic carbon in Australia's temperate forests - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

Refining benchmarks for soil organic carbon in Australia's temperate forests - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed March 28, 2026,

Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Organic Carbon (1" resolution) - TERN Data Discovery Portal, accessed August 28, 2025,

Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Organic Carbon (1" resolution) - TERN Data Discovery Portal, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support

Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Organic Carbon (1" resolution) - TERN Data Discovery Portal, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Soil carbon and inferred net primary production in high- and low-intensity grazing systems on the New England Tableland, eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil carbon and inferred net primary production in high- and low-intensity grazing systems on the New England Tableland, eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Soil organic matter in temperate forest-grassland systems: A case study from the Southern Cis-Ural, Russia - E3S Web of Conferences, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Soil carbon and related soil properties along a soil type and land-use intensity gradient, New South Wales, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

Soil carbon and related soil properties along a soil type and land-use intensity gradient, New South Wales, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Soil carbon and inferred net primary production in high- and low-intensity grazing systems on the New England Tableland, eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Soil Carbon Snapshot - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil Carbon Snapshot - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Baseline map of organic carbon in Australian soil to support national carbon accounting and monitoring under climate change - PubMed Central, accessed July 28, 2025,

Preview of Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment, accessed August 10, 2025,

Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 28, 2025,

Preview of Soil Health and Climate Change, accessed July 21, 2025,

Soil Health and Climate Change, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Soil carbon - Department for Environment and Water, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Soil Health Indicators Used in Temperate Climates for Sustainable Soil Management | Soil Science Cases - CABI Digital Library, accessed August 28, 2025,

Soil Health Indicators Used in Temperate Climates for Sustainable Soil Management | Soil Science Cases - CABI Digital Library, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Baseline high-resolution maps of organic carbon content in ..., accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Soil Health Indicators Used in Temperate Climates for Sustainable Soil Management | Soil Science Cases - CABI Digital Library, accessed May 12, 2025

Soil Health Indicators Used in Temperate Climates for Sustainable Soil Management | Soil Science Cases - CABI Digital Library, accessed May 12, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Soil Organic Carbon as Response to Reforestation Age and Land Use Changes: A Qualitative Approach to Ecosystem Services - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil Organic Carbon as Response to Reforestation Age and Land Use Changes: A Qualitative Approach to Ecosystem Services - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Effects of timber harvest on carbon pools in Ozark forests - Canadian Science Publishing, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Soil Organic Carbon is Increased in Mixed-Species Plantations of Eucalyptus and Nitrogen-Fixing Acacia - The Australian National University, accessed August 28, 2025,

Soil Organic Carbon is Increased in Mixed-Species Plantations of Eucalyptus and Nitrogen-Fixing Acacia - The Australian National University, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Long term effects of whole tree harvesting on soil carbon and nutrient sustainability in the UK - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Soil Organic Carbon Thresholds and Nitrogen Management in Tropical Agroecosystems: Concepts and Prospects - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025,

Soil Organic Carbon Thresholds and Nitrogen Management in Tropical Agroecosystems: Concepts and Prospects - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Organic Carbon Thresholds and Nitrogen Management in Tropical Agroecosystems: Concepts and Prospects - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of SOIL PROPERTIES AS AFFECTED BY PINUS RADIATA PLANTATIONS - Scion Research, accessed August 28, 2025,

SOIL PROPERTIES AS AFFECTED BY PINUS RADIATA PLANTATIONS - Scion Research, accessed August 28, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

SOIL PROPERTIES AS AFFECTED BY PINUS RADIATA PLANTATIONS - Scion Research, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Soils and carbon for reduced emissions - Agriculture Victoria, accessed July 6, 2025,

Soils and carbon for reduced emissions - Agriculture Victoria, accessed July 6, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Soils and carbon for reduced emissions - Agriculture Victoria, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of Tamm Review: Influence of forest management activities on soil organic carbon stocks: A knowledge synthesis - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025

Tamm Review: Influence of forest management activities on soil organic carbon stocks: A knowledge synthesis - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

The impact of harvesting native forests on vegetation and soil C stocks, and soil CO2, N2O and CH4 fluxes - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Top 6 Sustainable Forest Management Techniques, accessed August 28, 2025,

Top 6 Sustainable Forest Management Techniques, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Eucalypt plantation effects on organic carbon and aggregation of three different-textured soils in Brazil - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Total Organic Carbon | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed August 28, 2025,

Total Organic Carbon | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Total Organic Carbon | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Turner, J., & Lambert, M. J. (1988). Soil properties as affected by Pinus radiata plantations. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science, 18(1), 77-91.

Turner, J., & Lambert, M. J. (1988). Soil properties as affected by Pinus radiata plantations. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science, 18(1), 77-91.

Contextual Support Journal

Conversion of sub-tropical native vegetation to introduced conifer forest, accessed August 28, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 25 Mar 2026

Notes

No precise quantitative lower critical SOC threshold is defined in the literature for this specific context.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TDG-FOR-SOC family.