Soil Potassium

AUS-TGP-FOR-SOK General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 101 to 300 mg/kg
Optimal Range: 101 to 300
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 6 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 5 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The benchmark for "best available condition" in a sustainably managed production forest is defined as the level of soil potassium that is non-limiting to vigorous, healthy plant growth and supports robust, resilient ecosystem function.

Metric Definition:

Level of soil potassium that is non-limiting to vigorous, healthy plant growth and supports robust, resilient ecosystem function.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the optimal range of soil potassium in temperate grassy woodlands under production forestry, supporting healthy plant growth and resilient ecosystem function.

Justification:

Derived from the 'Ideal' category in Agriculture Victoria soil test guidelines, relevant to southern Australian temperate conditions and based on extensive field research.

Sources (1)

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

Supporting Sources (21)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 6. POTASSIUM - Nutrient Management, accessed August 9, 2025
6. POTASSIUM - Nutrient Management, accessed August 9, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Nutrient Disorders in - Plantation Eucalypts - Murdoch Research Portal, accessed August 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Appendix A - DAFF, accessed August 9, 2025
Appendix A - DAFF, accessed August 9, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

NSW State forest estate - Forestry Corporation, accessed August 9, 2025

View Source
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

View Source
Preview of Determining reference conditions for management and restoration of temperate grassy woodlands: Relationships among trees, topsoils and understorey flora in little-grazed remnants - the UWA Profiles and Research Repository, accessed August 5, 2025,
Determining reference conditions for management and restoration of temperate grassy woodlands: Relationships among trees, topsoils and understorey flora in little-grazed remnants - the UWA Profiles and Research Repository, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Determining reference conditions for management and restoration of temperate grassy woodlands: Relationships among trees, topsoils and understorey flora in little-grazed remnants - the UWA Profiles and Research Repository

View Source
Preview of Environmental factors affecting plant growth | OSU Extension Service, accessed August 9, 2025
Environmental factors affecting plant growth | OSU Extension Service, accessed August 9, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Environmental factors affecting plant growth | OSU Extension Service, accessed August 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Forest Health - Sustainable Timber Tasmania, accessed August 9, 2025
Forest Health - Sustainable Timber Tasmania, accessed August 9, 2025
Contextual Support

Forest Health - Sustainable Timber Tasmania, accessed August 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Graham, R. C., & Wilson, B. R. (2007). The influence of scattered trees on soil properties in temperate pastures. Soil Research, 45(2), 121-131.
Graham, R. C., & Wilson, B. R. (2007). The influence of scattered trees on soil properties in temperate pastures. Soil Research, 45(2), 121-131.
Contextual Support Journal

Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of Long-term rundown of plant-available potassium in Western Australia requires a re-evaluation of potassium management for grain production: a review - BioOne Complete, accessed July 10, 2025
Long-term rundown of plant-available potassium in Western Australia requires a re-evaluation of potassium management for grain production: a review - BioOne Complete, accessed July 10, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Long-term rundown of plant-available potassium in Western Australia requires a re-evaluation of potassium management for grain production: a review - BioOne Complete

View Source
Preview of Plans + Policies - Sustainable Timber Tasmania, accessed August 9, 2025
Plans + Policies - Sustainable Timber Tasmania, accessed August 9, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Plans + Policies - Sustainable Timber Tasmania, accessed August 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Potassium | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed August 11, 2025,
Potassium | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed August 11, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Potassium | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au

View Source
Preview of Potassium | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 10, 2025
Potassium | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 10, 2025
Contextual Support Government

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 17, 2025

View Source
Preview of Potassium and Its Role in Sustainable Agriculture - ResearchGate, accessed August 9, 2025
Potassium and Its Role in Sustainable Agriculture - ResearchGate, accessed August 9, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment, accessed July 28, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Potassium and sulphur - emerging deficiencies in the southern region - GRDC, accessed July 13, 2025
Potassium and sulphur - emerging deficiencies in the southern region - GRDC, accessed July 13, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Potassium and sulphur - emerging deficiencies in the southern region - GRDC

View Source
Preview of Potassium Control of Plant Functions: Ecological and Agricultural Implications - PMC, accessed July 30, 2025,
Potassium Control of Plant Functions: Ecological and Agricultural Implications - PMC, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative Agriculture - Nuffield Farming Scholarships

View Source
Preview of Potassium for high-performing pastures | Nutrient Advantage, accessed July 10, 2025
Potassium for high-performing pastures | Nutrient Advantage, accessed July 10, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

A review of plantations as a water intercepting land use in South Australia, accessed August 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Potassium limitation of forest productivity – Part 2: CASTANEA-MAESPA-K shows a reduction in photosynthesis rather - Agritrop, accessed August 9, 2025
Potassium limitation of forest productivity – Part 2: CASTANEA-MAESPA-K shows a reduction in photosynthesis rather - Agritrop, accessed August 9, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Potassium management in crops - Soil fertility - Government of Alberta, accessed August 9, 2025
Potassium management in crops - Soil fertility - Government of Alberta, accessed August 9, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Potassium management in crops - Soil fertility - Government of Alberta, accessed August 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Queensland Acid Sulfate Soil Technical Manual, accessed August 9, 2025
Queensland Acid Sulfate Soil Technical Manual, accessed August 9, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Queensland Acid Sulfate Soil Technical Manual, accessed August 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of The importance of travelling stock reserves for maintaining high-quality threatened temperate woodlands - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed August 12, 2025,
The importance of travelling stock reserves for maintaining high-quality threatened temperate woodlands - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Approved Conservation Advice for the White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 9, 2025
Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 9, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of www.ari.vic.gov.au, accessed May 13, 2025,
www.ari.vic.gov.au, accessed May 13, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Mean concentrations of soluble and exchangeable cations in ..., accessed August 9, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

The benchmark is stratified by soil texture with ranges: Sands (101-150 mg/kg), Sandy Loams (121-200 mg/kg), Clay Loams (161-250 mg/kg), Clays (181-300 mg/kg). It represents the best available condition for sustainable production forestry. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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

50 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Not Stated
MinimumOnly Active v1
80 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Not Stated
MinimumOnly Active v1
110 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Not Stated
MinimumOnly Active v1
120 mg/kg Moderate
Production Forestry · Not Stated
MinimumOnly Active v1