Soil Nitrogen

AUS-ASP-AGR-SON General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 400 to 1600 mg/kg

Optimal Range: 400 to 1600

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.

Evidence & Context

The primary benchmark for sandy and sandy-loam soils, derived from multi-site field data of well-managed farms, is a range of 400 to 1600 mg/kg.

Metric Definition:

Total soil nitrogen content in the top 10 cm of sandy and sandy-loam soils under best-practice sustainable or regenerative agricultural management.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the total soil nitrogen content range in sandy and sandy-loam soils under sustainable agricultural management, indicating high environmental health and soil organic matter maintenance.

Justification:

Derived from multi-site field data of 35 grower fields under best-practice management, representing the best available condition in the biome.

Sources (1)

Preview of Regenerative opportunities for building soil biological resilience – a ..., accessed May 11, 2025

Regenerative opportunities for building soil biological resilience – a ..., accessed May 11, 2025 GreyLiterature

Regenerative opportunities for building soil biological resilience – a case study in the low-rainfall zone in Southern Australia - GRDC

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Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of A review of sampling designs for the measurement of soil organic carbon in Australian grazing lands - Integrity Systems, accessed July 27, 2025,

A review of sampling designs for the measurement of soil organic carbon in Australian grazing lands - Integrity Systems, accessed July 27, 2025,

Direct Evidence Government

Total nitrogen levels as a key constraint on soil organic carbon ...

View Source

Soil Nitrogen Supply | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Nitrogen Fixation in Acacias - AgEcon Search, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Shrublands & Stony Plains
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 9 Jun 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. This range reflects a balance between building a sufficient organic nitrogen pool and managing the high risk of nitrate leaching inherent in sandy soils. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-ASP-AGR-SON family.