Soil Phosphorus

AUS-ASC-AGR-SOP General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 800 to 1200 mg/kg
Optimal Range: 800 to 1200
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

For agricultural crop production in subalpine valley floors aiming for the "best available condition of nature," an indicative target for Total P might be to remain within the natural range observed for comparable, undisturbed soils on similar parent materials (e.g., for granitic-derived soils, this might be in the order of 800-1200 mg/kg, based on data such as Group 2 or Heath on Granite from Table 1).

Metric Definition:

Total Phosphorus (Total P): This metric reflects the overall P capital or reserve in the soil.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the natural range of Total Phosphorus in soils of subalpine valley floors under agricultural crop production, reflecting the soil's inherent phosphorus reserve to maintain soil fertility without depletion or excess.

Justification:

The reference value is based on natural Total P levels in similar landscape settings to maintain the soil's inherent P store, preventing depletion or excessive enrichment.

Sources (1)

Preview of openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au, accessed on May 31, 2025
openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au, accessed on May 31, 2025 Journal

openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au, accessed on May 31, 2025,

View Source

Supporting Sources (14)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of A simple phosphorus buffering index for Australian soils - University of Tasmania Open Access Repository Cover sheet
A simple phosphorus buffering index for Australian soils - University of Tasmania Open Access Repository Cover sheet
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Phosphorus - NSW | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 22, 2025

View Source
Preview of Australian Alps Montane Grasslands | One Earth, accessed on May 28, 2025
Australian Alps Montane Grasslands | One Earth, accessed on May 28, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Long-term Vegetation Change in Relation to Cattle ... - DCCEEW, accessed May 11, 2026,

View Source
Preview of Foreword: New directions for phosphorus management in Australian soils and farming systems - ResearchGate, accessed on May 31, 2025
Foreword: New directions for phosphorus management in Australian soils and farming systems - ResearchGate, accessed on May 31, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Foreword: New directions for phosphorus management in Australian soils and farming systems - ResearchGate, accessed on May 31, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Global patterns and drivers of soil total phosphorus concentration - ESSD Copernicus, accessed on May 31, 2025
Global patterns and drivers of soil total phosphorus concentration - ESSD Copernicus, accessed on May 31, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Global patterns and drivers of soil total phosphorus concentration - ESSD Copernicus

View Source
Preview of Integrating legacy soil phosphorus into sustainable nutrient management strategies for future food, bioenergy and water security, accessed on May 31, 2025
Integrating legacy soil phosphorus into sustainable nutrient management strategies for future food, bioenergy and water security, accessed on May 31, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Budgeting phosphorus in medium and lower rainfall zones of southern NSW

View Source
Preview of Phosphorus for high rainfall clover pastures in Western Australia | Agriculture and Food
Phosphorus for high rainfall clover pastures in Western Australia | Agriculture and Food
Contextual Support

Agronomic soil tests can be used to estimate dissolved reactive phosphorus loss, accessed on May 31, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Recovery of Alpine Vegetation from Grazing and Drought: Data from Long-term Photoquadrats in Kosciuszko National Park, Australia - BioOne Complete, accessed on May 31, 2025
Recovery of Alpine Vegetation from Grazing and Drought: Data from Long-term Photoquadrats in Kosciuszko National Park, Australia - BioOne Complete, accessed on May 31, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Sustainably growing horticulture value in cool climate Australia - University of Tasmania, accessed on May 31, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025
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
Preview of Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed on May 31, 2025
Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed on May 31, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed on May 31, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Available Phosphorus (3" resolution) - Release 1 - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed on May 31, 2025
Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Available Phosphorus (3" resolution) - Release 1 - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed on May 31, 2025
Methodology Source Government

Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Available Phosphorus (3" resolution) - Release 1 - CSIRO Data Access Portal

View Source
Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - TERN - esoil.io, accessed on May 31, 2025
Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - TERN - esoil.io, accessed on May 31, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - TERN - esoil.io, accessed on May 31, 2025,

View Source
Preview of SUMMIT TECHNOTES TN03, accessed on May 31, 2025
SUMMIT TECHNOTES TN03, accessed on May 31, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

SUMMIT TECHNOTES TN03, accessed on May 31, 2025,

View Source
Preview of theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,
theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Phosphorus Nutrition of Proteaceae in Severely Phosphorus-Impoverished Soils: Are There Lessons To Be Learned for Future Crops? - PubMed Central

View Source
Preview of www.environment.nsw.gov.au, accessed on May 25, 2025,
www.environment.nsw.gov.au, accessed on May 25, 2025,
Contextual Support

The Australian Alps Bioregion - Environment and Heritage, accessed on May 27, 2025,

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 8 Jun 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. The natural P status of alpine and subalpine soils is highly variable, influenced by parent material, soil pH, and organic matter content. The reference values are best expressed as ranges contingent on soil type. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-ASC-AGR-SOP family.

— mg/kg Low
Agricultural Crop Production · Not Stated
OptimalRange Active v1