Soil Nitrogen

AUS-TGP-FOR-SON General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

677 mg/kg

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: Point

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is Point, 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.

Evidence & Context

For the topsoil layer (0-15 cm), the study reports a mean total soil nitrogen concentration of 677 mg/kg.

Metric Definition:

Mean total soil nitrogen concentration in the topsoil layer (0-15 cm)

Benchmark Definition:

Mean total soil nitrogen concentration in the topsoil layer (0-15 cm) from a mature, high-integrity remnant woodland in Australian Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains.

Justification:

Represents a stable, self-sustaining ecosystem state with high biodiversity, serving as the ideal ecological anchor.

Sources (1)

Elevated carbon dioxide increases soil nitrogen and phosphorus availability in a phosphorus-limited Eucalyptus woodland Journal

Elevated carbon dioxide increases soil nitrogen and phosphorus availability in a phosphorus-limited Eucalyptus woodland

View Source

Supporting Sources (5)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Chapter 9 AUSTRALIAN GRASSLANDS - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

How Past Rainfall Shapes Australia's Dryland Ecosystems - Western Sydney University

View Source

Preview of EFFECTS OF INTENSIFIED HARVESTING ON RATES OF NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL FROM PINUS RADIATA AND EUCALYPTUS FORESTS IN AUSTR - Scion Research

EFFECTS OF INTENSIFIED HARVESTING ON RATES OF NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL FROM PINUS RADIATA AND EUCALYPTUS FORESTS IN AUSTR - Scion Research

Direct Evidence Journal

EFFECTS OF INTENSIFIED HARVESTING ON RATES OF NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL FROM PINUS RADIATA AND EUCALYPTUS FORESTS IN AUSTR

View Source

Living soils in agriculture | TERN Australia, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Living soils in agriculture | TERN Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source

Soil management guides - NSW Department of Primary Industries

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Soil management guides - NSW Department of Primary Industries

View Source

Temperate Grasslands - Greening Australia, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Plant nutrients in the soil - NSW Department of Primary Industries

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 9 Jun 2026

Notes

This value is specific to loamy sand soil texture and represents the best available natural reference state for production forestry in Australian Temperate Grassy Woodlands.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-FOR-SON family.