Soil Nitrogen

AUS-TSR-AGR-SON General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 1500 to 2500 mg/kg
Optimal Range: 1500 to 2500
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

The benchmark represents the total nitrogen (TN) range for high-health loamy to clayey soils under best-practice regenerative agriculture. It is derived by triangulating two lines of evidence: 1) TN values calculated from the widely accepted 2-2.5% soil organic carbon (SOC) threshold for maintaining soil quality in the tropics, and 2) the functional state required to support the 'High' Soil Nitrogen Supply (50-125 mg/kg) identified as optimal for these soil types by Soil Quality Australia.

Metric Definition:

Total nitrogen concentration in soil representing the functional and sustainable nitrogen stock supporting high-health agricultural systems in tropical and subtropical rainforest biomes.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the total nitrogen concentration range in soil that supports healthy, high-functioning agricultural systems in tropical and subtropical rainforest regions with loamy to clayey soils under best-practice regenerative management.

Justification:

Derived by triangulating empirical targets for soil nitrogen supply and total nitrogen values calculated from soil organic carbon thresholds, reflecting a functionally healthy soil nitrogen status.

Sources (3)

Preview of Influence of environmental conditions and some soil chemical properties on the carbon and nitrogen contents of some tropical Australian rainforest soils - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Soil Research, accessed August 2, 2025
Influence of environmental conditions and some soil chemical properties on the carbon and nitrogen contents of some tropical Australian rainforest soils - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Soil Research, accessed August 2, 2025 Journal

(PDF) Influence of environmental conditions and some soil chemical properties on the carbon and nitrogen contents of some tropical Australian rainforest soils - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Soil Nitrogen Supply | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 25, 2025,
Soil Nitrogen Supply | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 25, 2025, Government

Nitrogen Fixation in Acacias - AgEcon Search, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Sub tropical banana nutrition - Hort Innovation
Sub tropical banana nutrition - Hort Innovation

Sub tropical banana nutrition - Hort Innovation, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

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

Notes

The benchmark range accounts for variability in management intensity and local conditions. A lower critical threshold near 500 mg/kg TN indicates severe functional degradation. An upper detrimental threshold exists but is not numerically specified here; it represents excess nitrogen causing crop quality reduction and environmental harm. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSR-AGR-SON family.