Soil pH — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 6 to 7.5 pH

Optimal Range: 6 to 7.5

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. The scoring engine uses 19 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 18 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

The benchmark range of pH(CaCl2) 6.0-7.5 represents the best available ecological condition for livestock grazing systems in Australia's Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands.

Metric Definition:

Soil pH measured in calcium chloride (CaCl2) extract, representing the acidity or alkalinity of soil in arid grazing systems.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the optimal soil pH range for ecological health in arid grazing systems, balancing acidity and alkalinity to support nutrient availability and biological activity in Australia's Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands under livestock grazing.

Justification:

This range is justified by functional thresholds avoiding aluminium toxicity below pH 4.8-5.0 and nutrient deficiencies above pH 8.0, supported by best-practice grazing outcomes and continental soil pH data.

Sources (7)

Preview of Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 2, 2025,

Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 2, 2025, Government

Northern and Yorke | Soil management - Landscape South Australia

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Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 28, 2025, Journal

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing

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Grazing management for healthy soils, accessed July 28, 2025, Journal

Grazing management for healthy soils

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Soil Constraints in an Arid Environment—Challenges, Prospects, and Implications - MDPI, accessed July 6, 2025, Journal

Soil Constraints in an Arid Environment—Challenges, Prospects, and Implications - MDPI

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Managing Soil Acidity - Department for Environment and Water

Preview of The pH of Australian soils: field results from a national survey - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 25, 2025,

The pH of Australian soils: field results from a national survey - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 25, 2025, Journal

Soil pH Explained - Soil Quality Knowledge Base

Supporting Sources (28)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) The pH of Australian soils: field results from a national survey - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025,

(PDF) The pH of Australian soils: field results from a national survey - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Caritat, P. de, & Cooper, M. (2011). The pH of Australian soils: Field results from a national survey. Soil Research, 49, 172-182.

Preview of accessed July 28

accessed July 28

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Geography of Australia - Wikipedia, accessed July 27, 2025

Preview of Agriculture Victoria. (2024). Soil acidity.

Agriculture Victoria. (2024). Soil acidity.

Contextual Support Government

Agriculture Victoria. (2025). Soil acidity. Farm Management.

Preview of Australia - Plateau, Outback, Deserts | Britannica, accessed July 28, 2025,

Australia - Plateau, Outback, Deserts | Britannica, accessed July 28, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Australia - Plateau, Outback, Deserts | Britannica, accessed July 28, 2025,

Preview of Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025,

Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

How should we manage our soils to increase soil carbon?, accessed May 10, 2026

Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 12, 2025

Do regenerative grazing management practices ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 12, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Investigating Intensive Grazing Systems in Northern Australia

Preview of Farming more sustainably by managing soil acidity, accessed July 28, 2025,

Farming more sustainably by managing soil acidity, accessed July 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil pH Explained - Soil Quality Knowledge Base, accessed July 28, 2025

Preview of Flinders Ranges - UNESCO World Heritage Centre, accessed July 29, 2025,

Flinders Ranges - UNESCO World Heritage Centre, accessed July 29, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Flinders Ranges - UNESCO World Heritage Centre, accessed July 29, 2025

Preview of Great Dividing Range - Wikipedia

Great Dividing Range - Wikipedia

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Desert Uplands - Wikipedia

Preview of Impact of phosphorus fertiliser on tropical pasture legume production - Agronomy Australia Proceedings, accessed July 28, 2025,

Impact of phosphorus fertiliser on tropical pasture legume production - Agronomy Australia Proceedings, accessed July 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Tool 6.7 Soil health benchmarks and guidelines for managing problem soils, accessed July 28, 2025,

Preview of Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services - Frontiers, accessed July 30, 2025,

Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services - Frontiers, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of Managing Soil Acidity - Department for Environment and Water, accessed July 28, 2025,

Managing Soil Acidity - Department for Environment and Water, accessed July 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Managing Soil Acidity - Department for Environment and Water, accessed July 28, 2025,

Preview of National Soil Strategy, accessed August 3, 2025,

National Soil Strategy, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

soils - of the australian alps

Preview of NSW Department of Primary Industries. (2021). Soil Acidity and Liming (AC.19).

NSW Department of Primary Industries. (2021). Soil Acidity and Liming (AC.19).

Contextual Support Government

Understanding soil pH

Preview of Pastures and acid soils - NSW Government

Pastures and acid soils - NSW Government

Contextual Support Journal

What do you see and when? What could this indicate? What test can I do to confirm? - MLA

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Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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Prospects for sustainable use of the pastoral ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Grazing management of Australian native ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 28, 2025,

Preview of Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 25, 2025

Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 25, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Grazing support programs | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed July 25, 2025,

Preview of Regenerative Agriculture Australia: Benefits and Practices - SONIC Natural Farming

Regenerative Agriculture Australia: Benefits and Practices - SONIC Natural Farming

Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative Agriculture Australia: Benefits and Practices - SONIC Natural Farming

Preview of Soil Analysis Results for Pastures - Northern Territory Government, accessed July 28, 2025,

Soil Analysis Results for Pastures - Northern Territory Government, accessed July 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Soil Analysis Results for Pastures - Northern Territory Government, accessed July 28, 2025,

Preview of Soil pH - SA | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au

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Contextual Support Government

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Preview of SoilQuality.org.au. (n.d.). Soil Acidity Factsheet.

SoilQuality.org.au. (n.d.). Soil Acidity Factsheet.

Contextual Support

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Preview of Sustainable Land Use Enhances Soil Microbial Respiration Responses to Experimental Heat Stress - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 9, 2025

Sustainable Land Use Enhances Soil Microbial Respiration Responses to Experimental Heat Stress - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 9, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Sustainable Land Use Enhances Soil Microbial Respiration Responses to Experimental Heat Stress - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 9, 2025

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support Journal

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The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 28, 2025,

Preview of Understanding pH: Success Stories: Growing Sollutions to Soil pH Challenges, accessed July 28, 2025,

Understanding pH: Success Stories: Growing Sollutions to Soil pH Challenges, accessed July 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Understanding pH: Success Stories: Growing Sollutions to Soil pH Challenges, accessed July 28, 2025,

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Contextual Support Journal

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Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 9 Jun 2026

Notes

The range 6.0-7.5 pH(CaCl2) aligns with peak microbial activity (6.0-7.0), reflects regenerative grazing outcomes, and balances risks of acidification and alkalinity in arid soils. It serves as a management guardrail for sustainable grazing in the biome. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.