Soil Nitrogen

AUS-ASP-AGR-SON General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 1500 to 3000 mg/kg
Optimal Range: 1500 to 3000
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 2 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.

Evidence & Context

A conservative, inferred benchmark for loams and clays under high-health regenerative management would logically fall in the upper end of, and likely exceed, the range observed for sands, plausibly in the order of 1500 – 3000 mg/kg.

Metric Definition:

Inferred total soil nitrogen benchmark range for loam and clay soils under best-practice regenerative agricultural management.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents an inferred range of total soil nitrogen in loam and clay soils under regenerative agricultural management, indicating higher nitrogen storage capacity and functional potential.

Justification:

Inferred from functional data and biogeochemical principles due to lack of direct field measurements.

Sources (1)

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

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

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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 ...

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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
Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

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

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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. Represents a higher nitrogen storage capacity and functional potential in loam and clay soils compared to sandy soils. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.