Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-ASC-FOR-SEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.103 dS/m
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: Point

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.

Evidence & Context

"Conductivity (dS m-1) 0.103 (0.120 ± 0.016) 0.086."

Metric Definition:

Electrical conductivity of the soil extract.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents typical soil electrical conductivity values measured in managed native forests in Tasmania under stable operational conditions.

Justification:

Representative measurement for managed native forests in Tasmania in a stable operational state.

Sources (1)

Preview of Soil properties and plant traits in a Tasmanian environmental gradient
Soil properties and plant traits in a Tasmanian environmental gradient Journal

Soil properties and plant traits in a Tasmanian environmental gradient

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Supporting Sources (58)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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Full article: Impacts of Road Disturbance on Soil Properties and on Exotic Plant Occurrence in Subalpine Areas of the Australian Alps - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed May 28, 2025
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Full article: Impacts of Road Disturbance on Soil Properties and on Exotic Plant Occurrence in Subalpine Areas of the Australian Alps - Taylor & Francis, accessed March 28, 2026,
Contextual Support

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Johnston, C. E., et al. 2003. A digital dataset of soils (ASRIS).
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Kirkpatrick, J. B., and M. J. Brown. 1984. The Tasmanian alpine ecosystem.
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Doolette, A. L., Smernik, R. J., & Dougherty, W. J. (2014). Phosphorus speciation in Australian alpine and sub-alpine soils. Soil Research, 54(1), 18-27.

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Mercury in an Australian sclerophyll Eucalyptus forest and emissions from fuel reduction prescribed burning - ResearchGate, accessed March 28, 2026,
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Predicting soil compaction from soil electrical conductivity based on scanning methods. A review - Platforma czasopism UP, accessed March 28, 2026,
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Soil protection with logging residues during mechanised harvesting of native forests in Tasmania - ANU Open Research, accessed March 28, 2026,

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Reduced soil multifunctionality and microbial network complexity in degraded and revegetated alpine meadows | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed March 28, 2026,
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Molecular bacterial diversity of a forest soil under residue management regimes in subtropical Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed March 28, 2026,

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Salinity Glovebox Guide Tasmania
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Salinity Glovebox Guide Tasmania

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Preview of Selected climatic, chemical and physical properties of the soils used in this study (Table 1)
Selected climatic, chemical and physical properties of the soils used in this study (Table 1)
Direct Evidence Journal

Selected climatic, chemical and physical properties of the soils used in this study (Table 1)

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Severity of the eucalypt dieback in high altitude Eucalyptus delegatensis forests
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Soil electrical conductivity (EC) is a measure of the amount ... - USDA
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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

  • Status Proposed
  • Version 6
  • Effective From 9 Apr 2026

Notes

Reflects standard "best practice" conditions in productive highland landscapes.