Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TMS-CON-SEC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

0.2 dS/m

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: MaximumOnly

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

Evidence & Context

Proposed Upper Detrimental Threshold: An EC1:5 value consistently > 0.20 dS/m is proposed as an upper detrimental threshold for Australian Tropical Monsoonal Savannas in conservation areas.

Metric Definition:

Soil Electrical Conductivity measured by the 1:5 soil/water extract method (EC1:5), indicating the onset of salinity stress detrimental to native savanna ecosystems.

Benchmark Definition:

Threshold above which soil EC indicates potential ecological harm due to salinity stress.

Justification:

This threshold marks a significant departure from the natural baseline, indicating the onset of conditions that could impose salinity stress on the ecosystem.

Sources (2)

Preview of Rance, S.J., et al. (2024). Nutrient limitations to plantation tree growth on three contrasting low fertility soils in the Northern Territory, Australia. Soil Research, SR23128.

Rance, S.J., et al. (2024). Nutrient limitations to plantation tree growth on three contrasting low fertility soils in the Northern Territory, Australia. Soil Research, SR23128. Journal

Rance, S.J., et al. (2024). Nutrient limitations to plantation tree growth on three contrasting low fertility soils in the Northern Territory, Australia. Soil Research, SR23128

View Source

Preview of Soil Electrical Conductivity - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed May 16, 2025,

Soil Electrical Conductivity - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed May 16, 2025, Journal

USDA 12

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

TERN AusPlots soil data from Kakadu National Park.

Direct Evidence

TERN AusPlots soil data from Kakadu National Park

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 9 Jun 2026

Notes

Levels above this point are likely to impose physiological stress on salt-sensitive native flora, potentially altering species composition and disrupting soil microbial processes.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMS-CON-SEC family.