Soil Phosphorus

AUS-TMS-FOR-SOP General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

20 mg/kg
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: MaximumOnly

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

Colwell P (low PBI): > 20 - 25 mg/kg

Metric Definition:

Available Phosphorus (Colwell P) in topsoil (0-10 cm)

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark sets the maximum acceptable level of available phosphorus in topsoil with low phosphorus buffering capacity, above which risks of toxicity and environmental loss increase in Tropical Monsoonal Savannas under production forestry.

Justification:

Above these levels, risks of P toxicity, nutrient imbalance, loss of P-sensitive native species, and environmental P loss increase.

Sources (47)

Preview of (PDF) Phosphorus accumulation and other changes in soil ..., accessed August 11, 2025
(PDF) Phosphorus accumulation and other changes in soil ..., accessed August 11, 2025 Journal

Phosphorus accumulation and other changes in soil properties as a consequence of vegetable production, Sydney region, Australia - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of (PDF) Soil phosphorus—crop response calibration relationships and ..., accessed August 4, 2025
(PDF) Soil phosphorus—crop response calibration relationships and ..., accessed August 4, 2025

Soil phosphorus—crop response calibration relationships and criteria for oilseeds, grain legumes and summer cereal crops grown in Australia - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Agronomic soil tests can be used to estimate dissolved reactive phosphorus loss
Agronomic soil tests can be used to estimate dissolved reactive phosphorus loss Journal

Agronomic soil tests can be used to estimate dissolved reactive phosphorus loss

View Source
Preview of ausplotsR: TERN AusPlots Australian Ecosystem Monitoring Data - CRAN - R Project
ausplotsR: TERN AusPlots Australian Ecosystem Monitoring Data - CRAN - R Project Journal

cran.r-project.org, accessed May 10, 2025

View Source
Preview of Australian Savanna Biome
Australian Savanna Biome Journal

Australian Savanna Biome

View Source
Preview of B.GBP.0063 - Phosphorus Map of Queensland Grazing Lands 2 | Meat & Livestock Australia
B.GBP.0063 - Phosphorus Map of Queensland Grazing Lands 2 | Meat & Livestock Australia Journal

B.GBP.0063 - Phosphorus Map of Queensland Grazing Lands 2 | Meat & Livestock Australia

View Source
Preview of Biome-specific effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on the photosynthetic characteristics of trees at a forest-savanna boundary in Cameroon - PMC - PubMed Central
Biome-specific effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on the photosynthetic characteristics of trees at a forest-savanna boundary in Cameroon - PMC - PubMed Central Journal

Biome-specific effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on the photosynthetic characteristics of trees at a forest-savanna boundary in Cameroon - PMC - PubMed Central

View Source
Preview of Categories - TERN Landscapes - Phase 2 - CSIRO Data Access Portal
Categories - TERN Landscapes - Phase 2 - CSIRO Data Access Portal Government

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

View Source
Preview of Contrasting strategies of nutrient demand and use between savanna and forest ecosystems in a neotropical transition zone - BG
Contrasting strategies of nutrient demand and use between savanna and forest ecosystems in a neotropical transition zone - BG Journal

Delta15N values of tropical savanna and monsoon forest species reflect root specialisations and soil nitrogen status - PubMed

View Source
Preview of Critical phosphorus values from the Better Fertiliser Decisions for Pastures project: early insights from validation trials - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,
Critical phosphorus values from the Better Fertiliser Decisions for Pastures project: early insights from validation trials - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025, Journal

Critical phosphorus values from the Better Fertiliser Decisions for Pastures project: early insights from validation trials - CSIRO Publishing

View Source
Preview of ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT - Forestry Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,
ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT - Forestry Australia, accessed August 10, 2025, Journal

www.forestry.org.au

View Source
Preview of Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus availability on the early growth of two congeneric pairs of savanna and forest species - SciELO
Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus availability on the early growth of two congeneric pairs of savanna and forest species - SciELO Journal

Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus availability on the early growth of two congeneric pairs of savanna and forest species - SciELO

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 Journal

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

View Source
Preview of Identifying limitations for invasion: the effect of phosphorus availability on the growth of the non-native tree, Tipuana tipu - CSIRO Publishing
Identifying limitations for invasion: the effect of phosphorus availability on the growth of the non-native tree, Tipuana tipu - CSIRO Publishing Journal

Identifying limitations for invasion: the effect of phosphorus availability on the growth of the non-native tree, Tipuana tipu - CSIRO Publishing

View Source
Preview of Impact of phosphorus fertiliser on tropical pasture legume production
Impact of phosphorus fertiliser on tropical pasture legume production Government

Impact of phosphorus fertiliser on tropical pasture legume production

View Source
Preview of Improved native understorey establishment in mine waste rock in Australia's wet–dry tropics - CSIRO Publishing
Improved native understorey establishment in mine waste rock in Australia's wet–dry tropics - CSIRO Publishing Journal

Identifying limitations for invasion: the effect of phosphorus availability on the growth of the non-native tree, Tipuana tipu - CSIRO Publishing

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 Journal

Budgeting phosphorus in medium and lower rainfall zones of southern NSW

View Source
Preview of Interpreting soil tests in the light of P, K and S research - Inside Cotton
Interpreting soil tests in the light of P, K and S research - Inside Cotton Government

Interpreting soil tests in the light of P, K and S research - Inside Cotton

View Source
Preview of Mine Closure and Ecosystem Development Alcan Gove Bauxite Mine, Northern Territory, Australia - ResearchGate
Mine Closure and Ecosystem Development Alcan Gove Bauxite Mine, Northern Territory, Australia - ResearchGate Journal

Soil pH predominantly controls the forms of organic phosphorus in topsoils under natural broadleaved forests along a 2500 km latitudinal gradient - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Negative effects of nitrogen override positive effects of phosphorus on grassland legumes worldwide | PNAS, accessed August 4, 2025,
Negative effects of nitrogen override positive effects of phosphorus on grassland legumes worldwide | PNAS, accessed August 4, 2025, Journal

Negative effects of nitrogen override positive effects of phosphorus on grassland legumes worldwide | PNAS, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Olsen Method - Extractable Phosphorus - Sign in - UC Davis
Olsen Method - Extractable Phosphorus - Sign in - UC Davis Government

Extractable Phosphorus | Soil Testing Laboratory

View Source
Preview of Paradox explained - Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Paradox explained - Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Journal

Paradox explained - Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

View Source
Preview of Phosphorus management of beef cattle in northern Australia
Phosphorus management of beef cattle in northern Australia Government

Phosphorus management of beef cattle in northern Australia

View Source
Preview of Phosphorus management of beef cattle in northern Australia - MLA, accessed July 17, 2025,
Phosphorus management of beef cattle in northern Australia - MLA, accessed July 17, 2025, Government

Phosphorus management of beef cattle in northern Australia - MLA

View Source
Preview of Phosphorus map of Queensland - Dataset - Publications ...
Phosphorus map of Queensland - Dataset - Publications ... Government

Phosphorus map of Queensland - Dataset - Publications ...

View Source
Preview of Phosphorus Nutrition of Proteaceae in Severely Phosphorus-Impoverished Soils: Are There Lessons To Be Learned for Future Crops? - PubMed Central, accessed August 4, 2025
Phosphorus Nutrition of Proteaceae in Severely Phosphorus-Impoverished Soils: Are There Lessons To Be Learned for Future Crops? - PubMed Central, accessed August 4, 2025 Journal

Phosphorus nutrition of phosphorus-sensitive Australian native plants: threats to plant communities in a global biodiversity hotspot - PMC

View Source
Preview of Phosphorus: a finite resource essential for life, critical for agriculture and food security - CSIRO, accessed August 11, 2025
Phosphorus: a finite resource essential for life, critical for agriculture and food security - CSIRO, accessed August 11, 2025 Government

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Retranslocation of Leaves and Stemwood in a Mature Eucalyptus Forest Exposed to 5 Years of Elevated CO2 - Frontiers

View Source
Preview of Projected changes in distributions of Australian tropical savanna birds under climate change using three different dispersal scenarios - PubMed Central
Projected changes in distributions of Australian tropical savanna birds under climate change using three different dispersal scenarios - PubMed Central Journal

Projected changes in distributions of Australian tropical savanna birds under climate change using three different dispersal scenarios - PubMed Central

View Source
Preview of Recent insights in soil nutrient cycling: perspectives from Pinus and Eucalyptus forest studies around the world
Recent insights in soil nutrient cycling: perspectives from Pinus and Eucalyptus forest studies around the world Government

Recent insights in soil nutrient cycling: perspectives from Pinus and Eucalyptus forest studies around the world

View Source
Preview of Savanna - Grassland, Climate, Animals | Britannica
Savanna - Grassland, Climate, Animals | Britannica GreyLiterature

Savanna - Grassland, Climate, Animals | Britannica

View Source
Preview of Search the catalogue - Dataplace
Search the catalogue - Dataplace Government

Search the catalogue - Dataplace

View Source
Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Available Water Capacity (3" resolution) - Release 1 - CSIRO Data Access Portal
Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Available Water Capacity (3" resolution) - Release 1 - CSIRO Data Access Portal Government

SLGA: Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia (Soil Attributes) | Earth Engine Data Catalog

View Source
Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Phosphorus (3" resolution) - Release 2 - Research Data Australia
Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Phosphorus (3" resolution) - Release 2 - Research Data Australia Government

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

View Source
Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - esoil.io, accessed July 13, 2025
Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - esoil.io, accessed July 13, 2025 Government

UPTAKE OF ARSENIC BY NATIVE PLANTS GROWING ON GOLD TAILINGS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIAN RANGELANDS1

View Source
Preview of SOIL PHOSPHORUS - USDA Forest Service
SOIL PHOSPHORUS - USDA Forest Service Journal

SOIL PHOSPHORUS - USDA Forest Service

View Source
Preview of Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed May 16, 2025,
Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed May 16, 2025, Journal

Litchfield Savanna BASE Contextual, Soil Physico-Chemical Data ..., accessed May 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil Test Interpretation - Holbrook Landcare Network
Soil Test Interpretation - Holbrook Landcare Network Journal

Soil Test Interpretation - Holbrook Landcare Network

View Source
Preview of TERN 2023 SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM - Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network
TERN 2023 SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM - Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network Journal

TERN Australian SuperSite Network - Research Data Australia

View Source
Preview of TERN Linked Data
TERN Linked Data Government

TERN Linked Data

View Source
Preview of The Global Dilemma of Soil Legacy Phosphorus and Its Improvement Strategies under Recent Changes in Agro-Ecosystem Sustainability
The Global Dilemma of Soil Legacy Phosphorus and Its Improvement Strategies under Recent Changes in Agro-Ecosystem Sustainability Journal

The Global Dilemma of Soil Legacy Phosphorus and Its Improvement Strategies under Recent Changes in Agro-Ecosystem Sustainability

View Source
Preview of The Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - YouTube
The Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - YouTube GreyLiterature

The Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - YouTube

View Source
Preview of Tropical Forests and Grasslands (Savanna) - Soils 4 Teachers, accessed May 20, 2025
Tropical Forests and Grasslands (Savanna) - Soils 4 Teachers, accessed May 20, 2025 Journal

A new detailed map of total phosphorus stocks in Australian soil

View Source
Preview of Understanding Soil Phosphorus - ResearchGate
Understanding Soil Phosphorus - ResearchGate Journal

Understanding Soil Phosphorus - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ...
Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ... Journal

Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ...

View Source
Preview of Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ..., accessed May 12, 2025
Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ..., accessed May 12, 2025 Government

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

View Source
Preview of Update and expansion of the soil and landscape grid of Australia - ResearchGate
Update and expansion of the soil and landscape grid of Australia - ResearchGate Journal

Update and expansion of the soil and landscape grid of Australia - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Updated soil phosphorus mapping now available in FORAGE - FutureBeef
Updated soil phosphorus mapping now available in FORAGE - FutureBeef GreyLiterature

Final report - MLA

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Vegetation Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Range provided as 20-25 mg/kg; 20 used as the threshold value.