Soil Nitrogen

AUS-TSW-CON-SON General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 400 to 1800 mg/kg
Optimal Range: 400 to 1800
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

CompositeFramework Primary Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard CompositeFramework Guard

Evidence & Context

Proposed Optimal Range: 400 – 1800 mg/kg. This range comfortably encompasses the median values and interquartile ranges for sandy, loamy, and clayey soils in a high-health state.

Metric Definition:

Optimal functional range for total soil nitrogen in conservation areas

Benchmark Definition:

Optimal total soil nitrogen range for conservation areas in this biome, supporting a healthy and resilient native ecosystem.

Justification:

This range reflects a healthy, stable, and resilient native ecosystem.

Sources (1)

Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia; Soil nitrogen availability in the cereal zone of South Australia. I. Soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and nitrogen mineralisation rates
Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia; Soil nitrogen availability in the cereal zone of South Australia. I. Soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and nitrogen mineralisation rates Government

Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Nitrogen (3" resolution) - Release 2

View Source

Supporting Sources (3)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on vegetation dynamics of a degraded native grassland in semi-arid south-eastern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 13, 2025,
Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on vegetation dynamics of a degraded native grassland in semi-arid south-eastern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 13, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

(PDF) Grassland soil carbon and nitrogen stocks under temperate ..., accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of SLGA: Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia (Soil Attributes) | Earth Engine Data Catalog
SLGA: Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia (Soil Attributes) | Earth Engine Data Catalog
Direct Evidence Journal

Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Nitrogen (3" resolution) - Release 2 - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed July 13, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - CSIRO, accessed July 30, 2025,
Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - CSIRO, accessed July 30, 2025,
Direct Evidence Government

Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - CSIRO

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Maintaining total soil nitrogen within this band suggests a functional nitrogen cycle that supports native biota without promoting invasive species.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSW-CON-SON family.

600 mg/kg Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
Point Active v1
900 mg/kg Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
Point Active v1
1200 mg/kg Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
Point Active v1
300 mg/kg Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
MinimumOnly Active v1
2000 mg/kg Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
MaximumOnly Active v1