Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-ASC-CON-SOC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 4.6 to 10.4 %
Thresholds: Lower: 4.6, Upper: —
Optimal Range: 4.6 to 10.4
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.

Evidence & Context

Red Loams (Ferrosols): The topsoil (A) range is 4.6% to 10.4%.

Metric Definition:

Total organic carbon percentage in the topsoil.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the total organic carbon percentage in the topsoil of Red Loams (Ferrosols) in the alpine biome under conservation land use, serving as a sustainable managed-state benchmark for subalpine soils on basalt parent material.

Justification:

Sustainable managed-state benchmark for subalpine soils on basalt parent material.

Sources (1)

Preview of Wilson, B. R., Oliver, I., Jenkins, M., & Robertson, S. (2021). Distribution, nature and threats to soils of the Australian Alps: A review. Austral Ecology, 46(2), 241-260.
Wilson, B. R., Oliver, I., Jenkins, M., & Robertson, S. (2021). Distribution, nature and threats to soils of the Australian Alps: A review. Austral Ecology, 46(2), 241-260. Journal

Wilson, B. R., Oliver, I., Jenkins, M., & Robertson, S. (2021). Distribution, nature and threats to soils of the Australian Alps: A review. Austral Ecology, 46(2), 241-260.

View Source

Supporting Sources (20)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Soil Organic Carbon – Role in Rainfed Farming Systems With ...
(PDF) Soil Organic Carbon – Role in Rainfed Farming Systems With ...
Contextual Support

Soil Organic Carbon – Role in Rainfed Farming Systems With Particular Reference to Australian Conditions - ResearchGate, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed May 11, 2025
Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Management Standards and Procedures for timber harvesting operations in Victoria’s State forests

View Source
Preview of Bluff Knoll, Stirling Range NP - Trails WA
Bluff Knoll, Stirling Range NP - Trails WA
Irrelevant

Bluff Knoll, Stirling Range NP - Trails WA

View Source
Preview of Carbon | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed on June 7, 2025,
Carbon | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed on June 7, 2025,
Direct Evidence Government

Cotching, W. E. (2012). Carbon stocks in Tasmanian soils. Soil Research, 50(2), 83-90.

View Source
Preview of Cotching, W. E., Oliver, G., Downie, M., Corkrey, R., & Doyle, R. B. (2013). Land use and management influences on surface soil organic carbon in Tasmania. Soil Research, 51(8), 615-620.
Cotching, W. E., Oliver, G., Downie, M., Corkrey, R., & Doyle, R. B. (2013). Land use and management influences on surface soil organic carbon in Tasmania. Soil Research, 51(8), 615-620.
Contextual Support Journal

Cotching, W. E., Oliver, G., Downie, M., Corkrey, R., & Doyle, R. B. (2013). Land use and management influences on surface soil organic carbon in Tasmania. Soil Research, 51(8), 615-620.

View Source
Preview of Ecology of Australia: the effects of nutrient-poor soils and intense fires - PubMed, accessed August 11, 2025,
Ecology of Australia: the effects of nutrient-poor soils and intense fires - PubMed, accessed August 11, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Ecology of Australia: the effects of nutrient-poor soils and intense fires - PubMed

View Source
Preview of Falls Creek Alpine Resort - Wikipedia
Falls Creek Alpine Resort - Wikipedia
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Falls Creek Alpine Resort - Wikipedia

View Source
Preview of Gully erosion assessment and control guide - Local Land Services, accessed on May 29, 2025,
Gully erosion assessment and control guide - Local Land Services, accessed on May 29, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Climate change impacts on our soils - AdaptNSW

View Source
Preview of Map of Mount Jim in Victoria - Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia
Map of Mount Jim in Victoria - Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia
Contextual Support

Map of Mount Jim in Victoria - Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia

View Source
Preview of Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed August 5, 2025,
Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks ... - BG

View Source
Preview of Marum Point - PeakVisor
Marum Point - PeakVisor
Irrelevant

Marum Point - PeakVisor

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Preview of Marum Point Circuit - Bushwalking Victoria
Marum Point Circuit - Bushwalking Victoria
Irrelevant

Marum Point Circuit - Bushwalking Victoria

View Source
Preview of Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 17, 2025,
Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 17, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO ...

View Source
Preview of NSW Department of Primary Industries. (2021). Recycled Organics for Soil Health: Farmer and Advisor Guide.
NSW Department of Primary Industries. (2021). Recycled Organics for Soil Health: Farmer and Advisor Guide.
Direct Evidence Journal

NSW Department of Primary Industries. (2021). Recycled Organics for Soil Health: Farmer and Advisor Guide.

View Source
Preview of Predicting and regulating soil carbon in a warmer world | TERN Australia, accessed August 28, 2025,
Predicting and regulating soil carbon in a warmer world | TERN Australia, accessed August 28, 2025,
Direct Evidence Government

Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania. (2025). Tasmanian High Soil Carbon Landscapes project.

View Source
Preview of Recovery of Alpine Herbfield on a Closed Walking Track in the ...
Recovery of Alpine Herbfield on a Closed Walking Track in the ...
Contextual Support Journal

Recovery of Alpine Herbfield on a Closed Walking Track in the Kosciuszko Alpine Zone, Australia - BioOne Complete

View Source
Preview of Ruined Castle, basalt columns near Falls Creek in Alpine National Park. Victoria, Australia Stock Photo - Alamy
Ruined Castle, basalt columns near Falls Creek in Alpine National Park. Victoria, Australia Stock Photo - Alamy
Irrelevant

Ruined Castle, basalt columns near Falls Creek in Alpine National Park. Victoria, Australia Stock Photo - Alamy

View Source
Preview of Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics and Influencing Factors in the Zoige Alpine Wetland from the 1980s to 2020 Based on a Random Forest Model - MDPI
Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics and Influencing Factors in the Zoige Alpine Wetland from the 1980s to 2020 Based on a Random Forest Model - MDPI
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics and Influencing Factors in the Zoige Alpine Wetland from the 1980s to 2020 Based on a Random Forest Model - MDPI

View Source
Preview of Soil organic carbon in Western Australian - Department of Agriculture and Food
Soil organic carbon in Western Australian - Department of Agriculture and Food
Contextual Support

Soil organic carbon in Western Australian - Department of Agriculture and Food

View Source
Preview of The Buller Huts Trail (96km) - Alpine National Park, VIC - Trail Hiking Australia
The Buller Huts Trail (96km) - Alpine National Park, VIC - Trail Hiking Australia
Irrelevant

The Buller Huts Trail (96km) - Alpine National Park, VIC - Trail Hiking Australia

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 9 Apr 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Ferrosols provide high carbon protection through iron-organic complexes.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-ASC-CON-SOC family.

14.7 % High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
Point Active v1
3 % Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
LowerThreshold Active v1
— % Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
OptimalRange Active v1
— % High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
— % High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
— % High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
— % High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
— % High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
12 % Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
MinimumOnly Active v1
— % Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
5.8 % Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
LowerThreshold Active v1
2 % Low
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
LowerThreshold Active v1