Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-AKW-LVG-SEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 0.02 to 0.05 dS/m

Optimal Range: 0.02 to 0.05

Direction: Lower 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.

Evidence & Context

Based on the reference data 29, this baseline is approximately 0.02 - 0.05 dS/m (EC1:5).

Metric Definition:

Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC) measured as EC1:5 soil-water suspension

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the natural baseline floor of soil electrical conductivity in healthy soils of the Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands biome.

Justification:

Derived from reference data representing typical non-saline topsoil in well-vegetated woodland and shrubland areas.

Sources (1)

Great Western Woodlands BASE Contextual, Soil Physico-Chemical Data 2013 Government

Great Western Woodlands BASE Contextual, Soil Physico-Chemical Data 2013

View Source

Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Great Western Woodlands SuperSite | Climate Change Impacts - TERN Australia, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

URBAN FOREST STRATEGY - Your Say South Perth, accessed July 13, 2025

View Source

Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ..., accessed May 12, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Agriculture Victoria. (2025). Understanding soil tests for pastures. Farm Management.

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 2
Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

A critically low EC is not a concern in this biome; this range represents the natural floor observed in the healthiest soils. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AKW-LVG-SEC family.