Soil Phosphorus

AUS-ASC-FOR-SOP General High confidence

Benchmark Value

39.77 mg/kg
Direction: Higher 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 16 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 15 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard UpperThreshold Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard LowerThreshold Guard Point Guard

Evidence & Context

"available (Colwell) P (mg P/kg) 39.77 (±1.92)"

Metric Definition:

Colwell P

Benchmark Definition:

High-health benchmark for restored managed forests.

Justification:

In a managed "Ridgefield Experiment" focused on restoration and ecosystem services, the available (Colwell) P was 39.77 (±1.92) mg/kg.

Sources (1)

Preview of Perring, M. P., et al. (2012). The Ridgefield Multiple Ecosystem Services Experiment: Can restoration of former agricultural land achieve multiple outcomes? Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment.
Perring, M. P., et al. (2012). The Ridgefield Multiple Ecosystem Services Experiment: Can restoration of former agricultural land achieve multiple outcomes? Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment.

The Ridgefield Multiple Ecosystem Services Experiment

View Source

Supporting Sources (18)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 28, 2025,
Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 28, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Arbuscular mycorrhizas in Australian cropping

View Source
Preview of Bowd, E. J., et al. (2019). Wildfire severity and soil nutrient depletion. Journal of Applied Ecology.
Bowd, E. J., et al. (2019). Wildfire severity and soil nutrient depletion. Journal of Applied Ecology.
Contextual Support Journal

P.V. Woods & R.J. Raison. (1983). Losses of nitrogen during prescribed burning in a Eucalyptus pauciflora forest.

View Source
Preview of Doolette, A. L., et al. (2009). Speciation of organic phosphorus in soil. EST. []
Doolette, A. L., et al. (2009). Speciation of organic phosphorus in soil. EST. []
Contextual Support Journal

Doolette, A. L., et al. (2009). Speciation of organic phosphorus in soil. EST. []

View Source
Preview of Effects of soil phosphorus availability on soil respiration in Eucalyptus pauciflora forest
Effects of soil phosphorus availability on soil respiration in Eucalyptus pauciflora forest
Contextual Support Journal

Effects of soil phosphorus availability on soil respiration in Eucalyptus pauciflora forest

View Source
Preview of He, X., et al. (2021). Global distribution and influencing factors of plant‐available phosphorus in semi‐natural soils. Earth System Science Data.
He, X., et al. (2021). Global distribution and influencing factors of plant‐available phosphorus in semi‐natural soils. Earth System Science Data.
Direct Evidence

Global Distribution of Plant-Available Phosphorus

View Source
Preview of Kirkpatrick, J. B., and M. J. Brown. 1984. The Tasmanian alpine ecosystem.
Kirkpatrick, J. B., and M. J. Brown. 1984. The Tasmanian alpine ecosystem.
Direct Evidence Journal

Phosphorus speciation in Australian alpine and sub-alpine soils

View Source
Preview of Liu, J., et al. (2023). Soil nutrient status and stoichiometry in different forest types. Forests.
Liu, J., et al. (2023). Soil nutrient status and stoichiometry in different forest types. Forests.
Contextual Support Journal

Soil nutrient status in different forest types

View Source
Preview of Mendham, D. S., et al. (2019). Nutrition and management of Acacia plantations. Australian Forestry.
Mendham, D. S., et al. (2019). Nutrition and management of Acacia plantations. Australian Forestry.
Direct Evidence

Nutrition and management of Acacia plantations

View Source
Preview of National Soil Action Plan - DAFF, accessed August 11, 2025,
National Soil Action Plan - DAFF, accessed August 11, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Australian Government. (2023). National Soil Action Plan 2023 to 2028. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

View Source
Preview of Patterns of variation in Australian alpine soils and their relationships to parent material, vegetation formation, climate and topography | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 3, 2025,
Patterns of variation in Australian alpine soils and their relationships to parent material, vegetation formation, climate and topography | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 3, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Stuart Johnston & Megan Ryan. (2000). Occurrence of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi across a Range of Alpine Humus Soil Conditions in Kosciuszko National Park. ResearchGate. []

View Source
Preview of Proceedings of the 20th Australasian Weeds Conference
Proceedings of the 20th Australasian Weeds Conference
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Proceedings of the 20th Australasian Weeds Conference

View Source
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)
Contextual Support Journal

Keith, H. (1997). Effects of soil phosphorus availability, temperature, and moisture on soil respiration in Eucalyptus pauciflora forest. Plant and Soil, 190(1), 121-141. []

View Source
Preview of SOC and total N in three successional forests
SOC and total N in three successional forests
Contextual Support Journal

SOC and total N in three successional forests

View Source
Preview of Soil properties and plant traits in a Tasmanian environmental gradient
Soil properties and plant traits in a Tasmanian environmental gradient
Direct Evidence Journal

Management of Eucalyptus grandis seedlings

View Source
Preview of Speciation of organic P in soil extracts
Speciation of organic P in soil extracts
Contextual Support Journal

McLaren, T. I., Smernik, R. J., Guppy, C. N., & Bell, M. J. (2015). Speciation of organic phosphorus in soil extracts fractionated into two molecular weight ranges. Environmental Science & Technology, 49(21), 12648-12655. []

View Source
Preview of Sustainable Timber Tasmania. (2025). Silvicultural use and effects of fire. Technical Bulletin 11.
Sustainable Timber Tasmania. (2025). Silvicultural use and effects of fire. Technical Bulletin 11.
Direct Evidence

Sustainable Timber Tasmania. (2025). Silvicultural use and effects of fire. Technical Bulletin 11.

View Source
Preview of What are the optimum nutrient targets for pastures? - Soil Health Knowledgebase, accessed August 5, 2025,
What are the optimum nutrient targets for pastures? - Soil Health Knowledgebase, accessed August 5, 2025,
Direct Evidence Government

CCMA Soil Health - Nutrient Management

View Source
Preview of Why phosphorus is important - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed August 4, 2025
Why phosphorus is important - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed August 4, 2025
Direct Evidence Government

Malone & Searle. (2021). Australian national coverages of clay, sand and silt content. Soil Research. []

View Source

Context

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

Lifecycle

  • Status Superseded
  • Version 13
  • Effective From 10 Apr 2026
  • Effective To 10 Apr 2026

Related Benchmarks

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

12.4 mg/kg High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Active v14
— mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v6
8 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
MinimumOnly Active v3
2 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
LowerThreshold Active v3
565 mg/kg High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Active v2
479 mg/kg High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Active v2
624 mg/kg High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference · Alpine Humus
Point Active v2
270 mg/kg High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference · Podosol
Point Active v1
195 mg/kg High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference · Podosol
Point Active v1
524 mg/kg High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Active v1
4.1 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Conservation Target · Forest
Point Active v1
665 mg/kg High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference · Alpine Humus
Point Active v1
524 mg/kg High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Active v1
4.1 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Advanced Forest
Point Active v1
30 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Proposed v15
9 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Proposed v13
12.4 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Proposed v13
30 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Proposed v13
194 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Proposed v12
9 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Proposed v12
39.77 mg/kg High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Superseded v12
288 mg/kg High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Superseded v11
479 mg/kg High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Superseded v10
565 mg/kg High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Superseded v9
524 mg/kg High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Superseded v8
195 mg/kg High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Superseded v7
270 mg/kg High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Superseded v6
624 mg/kg High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Superseded v5
— mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Superseded v5
1190 mg/kg High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Superseded v4
— mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Superseded v4
— mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Superseded v3
4.1 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Proposed v3
12.4 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Proposed v3
30 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Proposed v3
665 mg/kg High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Superseded v3
— mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Superseded v2
39.77 mg/kg High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Superseded v2
8 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
MinimumOnly Superseded v2
— mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
LowerThreshold Superseded v2
1190 mg/kg High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference · Alpine Humus
Point Superseded v1
2 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
LowerThreshold Superseded v1
565 mg/kg High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Superseded v1
479 mg/kg High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Superseded v1
— mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Superseded v1
8 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
MinimumOnly Superseded v1
9 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Superseded v1