Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-TMS-CON-SOC General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

4.1 %
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: MaximumOnly

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

Wetter, more fertile sites on specific soil types (e.g., basalt-derived Ferrosols) with potentially longer fire return intervals or periods of fire exclusion might achieve higher SOC levels, possibly up to ~4.1%

Metric Definition:

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) percentage in the 0-10 cm soil depth

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the maximum Soil Organic Carbon percentage observed in wetter, more fertile savanna sites on basalt-derived Ferrosol soils under conservation management in tropical monsoonal savannas.

Justification:

Based on Koombooloomba State Forest site data showing higher SOC due to basalt parent material and fire exclusion.

Sources (1)

Preview of Carbon and nitrogen stores in a savanna landscape in the Berrimah Agricultural Research Centre, northern Australia. CSIRO.
Carbon and nitrogen stores in a savanna landscape in the Berrimah Agricultural Research Centre, northern Australia. CSIRO. Journal

Davies, J. (2017). Carbon and water exchange in Australian tropical savannas. PhD Thesis, James Cook University.

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Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of PhD Thesis: Carbon dynamics in tropical savannas: from leaf to landscape (Davies, 2017)
PhD Thesis: Carbon dynamics in tropical savannas: from leaf to landscape (Davies, 2017)
Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Chen, X., Hutley, L.B., Eamus, D., Beringer, J. (2003). Carbon balance of a tropical savanna of northern Australia. Oecologia, 137, 405-416.

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Preview of Soil Organic Carbon Benchmarks by Rainfall and Texture
Soil Organic Carbon Benchmarks by Rainfall and Texture
Contextual Support Journal

Blunden et al. (2024). Fire regime impacts on soil microbes, soil organic carbon and ground cover in an Australian tropical savanna.

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Represents the mesic end of the savanna spectrum or transitional ecosystem states.

Related Benchmarks

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

— % Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
OptimalRange Active v1
1.4 % Low
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
MinimumOnly Active v1
2.1 % Low
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
MinimumOnly Active v1