Soil Structure & Compaction

AUS-TDG-FOR-SSC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 1000 to 1500 kPa
Optimal Range: 1000 to 1500
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: OptimalRange

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

Evidence & Context

It is suggested that in general harvested areas (i.e., excluding dedicated, heavily trafficked snig tracks and log landings, which under best practice are confined to a minimal portion of the coupe), a penetrometer resistance of <1000−1500 kPa in the upper soil profile (e.g., 0-30 cm) would represent a state of high environmental health.

Metric Definition:

Penetrometer resistance, measured in kilopascals (kPa), reflecting soil strength and its impediment to root growth.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the optimal range of soil penetrometer resistance in production forestry areas of temperate dry woodlands and native grasslands in Australia, indicating soil conditions that support healthy root growth and ecosystem function.

Justification:

Based on synthesis of available information, particularly Rokich et al. (2000) data for analogous Australian sandy woodland soils and ecological principles of minimizing compaction to maintain soil function.

Sources (1)

Preview of Rokich, D. P., Dixon, K. W., Sivasithamparam, K., & Meney, K. A. (2000). The impact of soil disturbance on root development in woodland communities in Western Australia. Australian Journal of Botany, 48(2), 169-183
Rokich, D. P., Dixon, K. W., Sivasithamparam, K., & Meney, K. A. (2000). The impact of soil disturbance on root development in woodland communities in Western Australia. Australian Journal of Botany, 48(2), 169-183 Journal

Rokich, D. P., Dixon, K. W., Sivasithamparam, K., & Meney, K. A. (2000). The impact of soil disturbance on root development in woodland communities in Western Australia. Australian Journal of Botany, 48(2), 169-183

View Source

Supporting Sources (24)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Compaction of forest soils with heavy logging machinery - ResearchGate, accessed May 15, 2025
(PDF) Compaction of forest soils with heavy logging machinery - ResearchGate, accessed May 15, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Compaction of forest soils with heavy logging machinery - ResearchGate, accessed May 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of (PDF) Effects of soil treatments on the establishment of Acacia and Eucalyptus following gravel extraction - ResearchGate, accessed May 15, 2025
(PDF) Effects of soil treatments on the establishment of Acacia and Eucalyptus following gravel extraction - ResearchGate, accessed May 15, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Effects of soil treatments on the establishment of Acacia and Eucalyptus following gravel extraction - ResearchGate, accessed May 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of AUSTRALIA'S STATE OF THE FORESTS REPORT - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,
AUSTRALIA'S STATE OF THE FORESTS REPORT - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Final report Advice on finalising Draft Private Native Forestry Codes of Practice March 2022

View Source
Preview of Australian National Soil Archive - CSIRO, accessed July 30, 2025,
Australian National Soil Archive - CSIRO, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Microbial Biogeochemical Cycling of Nitrogen in Arid Ecosystems - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Bibliographies: 'Soil profile' - Grafiati, accessed May 15, 2025
Bibliographies: 'Soil profile' - Grafiati, accessed May 15, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Bibliographies: 'Soil profile' - Grafiati, accessed May 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of Compaction of Forest Soils. A Review, accessed May 15, 2025
Compaction of Forest Soils. A Review, accessed May 15, 2025
Contextual Support

Effects of organic matter removal, soil compaction and vegetation control on 10th year biomass and foliar nutrition: LTSP contin - USDA Forest Service, accessed May 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of FEM Incident Recording Form FORM DPaWFEMOOl Department of Parks and Wildlife Region - Parliament of Western Australia, accessed May 15, 2025
FEM Incident Recording Form FORM DPaWFEMOOl Department of Parks and Wildlife Region - Parliament of Western Australia, accessed May 15, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

FEM Incident Recording Form FORM DPaWFEMOOl Department of Parks and Wildlife Region - Parliament of Western Australia, accessed May 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of Impacts of Logging-Associated Compaction on Forest Soils: A Meta-Analysis - Frontiers, accessed July 11, 2025,
Impacts of Logging-Associated Compaction on Forest Soils: A Meta-Analysis - Frontiers, accessed July 11, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Impacts of Logging-Associated Compaction on Forest Soils: A Meta-Analysis - Frontiers, accessed July 19, 2025

View Source
Preview of Keith, H., et al. (2009). The impact of harvesting native forests on vegetation and soil C stocks and soil CO2, N2O and CH4 fluxes. Australian Forestry, 72(4), 183-194.
Keith, H., et al. (2009). The impact of harvesting native forests on vegetation and soil C stocks and soil CO2, N2O and CH4 fluxes. Australian Forestry, 72(4), 183-194.
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The impact of harvesting native forests on vegetation and soil C stocks, and soil CO2, N2O and CH4 fluxes - ResearchGate, accessed May 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of Landscape Monitoring for Landscape Research | Landscape ..., accessed July 22, 2025,
Landscape Monitoring for Landscape Research | Landscape ..., accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Litchfield Savanna SuperSite | Fire Regime Impact | TERN | NT

View Source
Preview of logging and water - The Australia Institute, accessed July 31, 2025,
logging and water - The Australia Institute, accessed July 31, 2025,
Regulatory Framework Journal

National Guidelines for Water Quality - Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, accessed July 31, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Paper: Deep ripping after topsoil return affects root proliferation and floristic diversity in a restored biodiverse forest after bauxite mining - Australian Centre for Geomechanics, accessed May 15, 2025
Paper: Deep ripping after topsoil return affects root proliferation and floristic diversity in a restored biodiverse forest after bauxite mining - Australian Centre for Geomechanics, accessed May 15, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Paper: Deep ripping after topsoil return affects root proliferation and floristic diversity in a restored biodiverse forest after bauxite mining - Australian Centre for Geomechanics, accessed May 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of Private Native Forestry Code of Practice for Southern NSW - FAOLEX, accessed May 15, 2025
Private Native Forestry Code of Practice for Southern NSW - FAOLEX, accessed May 15, 2025
Regulatory Framework Journal

Forestry Corporation of NSW (2022). Private Native Forestry Code of Practice for Southern New South Wales.

View Source
Preview of Private Native Forestry Code of Practice for Southern NSW - Local Land Services, accessed May 26, 2025
Private Native Forestry Code of Practice for Southern NSW - Local Land Services, accessed May 26, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

NSW Private Native Forestry Code of Practice for Southern NSW

View Source
Preview of Private Native Forestry information package - Sustainable Forest Management, accessed August 10, 2025,
Private Native Forestry information package - Sustainable Forest Management, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Temperate forests and soils [Chapter 6], accessed August 10, 2025

View Source
Preview of Private Native Forestry information package - Sustainable Forest Management, accessed May 15, 2025
Private Native Forestry information package - Sustainable Forest Management, accessed May 15, 2025
Regulatory Framework

The effects of drought and climate variability on Australian farms - DAFF

View Source
Preview of Recent advances in restoration ecology, with a focus on the Banksia woodland and the smoke germination tool - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed May 15, 2025
Recent advances in restoration ecology, with a focus on the Banksia woodland and the smoke germination tool - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed May 15, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Recent advances in restoration ecology, with a focus on the Banksia woodland and the smoke germination tool - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed May 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of TERN Soil Data Federator - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed May 16, 2025,
TERN Soil Data Federator - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed May 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

TERN Soil Data Federator - CSIRO Data Access Portal

View Source
Preview of The impact of harvesting native forests on vegetation and soil C stocks, and soil CO2, N2O and CH4 fluxes - ResearchGate, accessed May 15, 2025
The impact of harvesting native forests on vegetation and soil C stocks, and soil CO2, N2O and CH4 fluxes - ResearchGate, accessed May 15, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Compaction of forest soils with heavy logging machinery affects soil bacterial community structure | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of The Influence of Compaction and Soil Strength on the Establishment of Four Australian Landscape Trees | Arboriculture & Urban Forestry
The Influence of Compaction and Soil Strength on the Establishment of Four Australian Landscape Trees | Arboriculture & Urban Forestry
Contextual Support Journal

Resistance and resilience of the forest soil microbiome to logging ...

View Source
Preview of Understorey productivity in temperate grassy woodland responds to soil water availability but not to elevated [CO2 ] - PubMed, accessed August 9, 2025
Understorey productivity in temperate grassy woodland responds to soil water availability but not to elevated [CO2 ] - PubMed, accessed August 9, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

SNOWY MOUNTAIN FORESTED HILLSLOPE SOIL CHARACTERISATION, SOIL HYDROLOGICAL PROPERTIES AND SOIL GEOCHEMISTRY PROGRAM

View Source
Preview of View of The distribution of fine root length density for six artificial afforestation tree species in Loess Plateau of Northwest China | Forest Systems, accessed May 15, 2025
View of The distribution of fine root length density for six artificial afforestation tree species in Loess Plateau of Northwest China | Forest Systems, accessed May 15, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Melding of research and practice to improve restoration of Banksia woodlands after sand extraction, Perth, Western Australia - ResearchGate, accessed May 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of www.environment.nsw.gov.au, accessed May 15, 2025
www.environment.nsw.gov.au, accessed May 15, 2025
Regulatory Framework

www.environment.nsw.gov.au, accessed May 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of www.forestsandreserves.vic.gov.au, accessed May 15, 2025
www.forestsandreserves.vic.gov.au, accessed May 15, 2025
Regulatory Framework Journal

www.lls.nsw.gov.au, accessed May 15, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

This range is significantly below the critical root-impeding threshold of 2000 kPa and aims to approach conditions found in less disturbed native sandy soils. It excludes heavily trafficked snig tracks and landings under best practice. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values above 2000 kPa are detrimental. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TDG-FOR-SSC family.

2000 kPa Moderate
Production Forestry · Not Stated
MaximumOnly Active v1