Soil Potassium

AUS-ASC-CON-SOK General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 5000 to 7700 mg/kg

Optimal Range: 5000 to 7700

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

For specific, exceptionally potassium-rich environments, often associated with granitic parent materials and supporting vegetation like Tall Alpine Herbfields (e.g., in the Snowy Mountains), benchmark values can be significantly higher, in the range of 5000–7700 mg/kg available potassium.

Metric Definition:

Available soil potassium measured by bicarbonate extraction method.

Benchmark Definition:

Available potassium in soil representing exceptionally high natural fertility in specific alpine environments under conservation management.

Justification:

Based on high potassium levels observed in Snowy Mountains tall alpine herbfields on granite and metasediments.

Sources (1)

Preview of Patterns of variation in Australian alpine soils and their relationships to parent material, vegetation formation, climate and t

Patterns of variation in Australian alpine soils and their relationships to parent material, vegetation formation, climate and t Journal

Patterns of variation in Australian alpine soils

Supporting Sources (14)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Soil potassium—crop response calibration relationships and criteria for field crops grown in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025,

(PDF) Soil potassium—crop response calibration relationships and criteria for field crops grown in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Nutrient Cycling in Australian Savannas on JSTOR - DOI

Preview of Johnston, F. M., & Johnston, S. W. (2004). Impacts of Road Disturbance on Soil Properties and on Exotic Plant Occurrence in Subalpine Areas of the Australian Alps. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 36(2), 201-207.

Johnston, F. M., & Johnston, S. W. (2004). Impacts of Road Disturbance on Soil Properties and on Exotic Plant Occurrence in Subalpine Areas of the Australian Alps. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 36(2), 201-207.

Contextual Support Journal

Holland, J. E., Conyers, M., Orchard, B., & Poile, G. (2014). Soil potassium relationships, uptake efficiency and availability for six distinctive soils in central and southern New South Wales, Australia. Soil Research, 52(4), 361-370.

Preview of Li, X., et al. (2023). Dynamics of Soil Nutrients and Microbial Biomass during Litter Decomposition in Three Subalpine Meadow Soils. MDPI Forests, 14(2), 259.

Li, X., et al. (2023). Dynamics of Soil Nutrients and Microbial Biomass during Litter Decomposition in Three Subalpine Meadow Soils. MDPI Forests, 14(2), 259.

Contextual Support Journal

Kirkpatrick, J. B., Bridle, K. L., & Grover, S. P. (2014). Patterns of variation in Australian alpine soils and their relationships to parent material, vegetation formation, climate and topography. Catena, 121, 186-194.

Preview of Long-term rundown of plant-available potassium in Western Australia requires a re-evaluation of potassium management for grain production: a review - BioOne Complete, accessed July 10, 2025

Long-term rundown of plant-available potassium in Western Australia requires a re-evaluation of potassium management for grain production: a review - BioOne Complete, accessed July 10, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Long-term rundown of plant-available potassium in Western Australia requires a re-evaluation of potassium management for grain production: a review - BioOne Complete

Preview of Pickering, C., & Johnston, F. M. (2014). Processes explaining exotic plant occurrence in Australian mountain systems. The Australian Alps National Parks.

Pickering, C., & Johnston, F. M. (2014). Processes explaining exotic plant occurrence in Australian mountain systems. The Australian Alps National Parks.

Contextual Support Journal

Pickering, C., & Johnston, F. M. (2014). Processes explaining exotic plant occurrence in Australian mountain systems. The Australian Alps National Parks.

Preview of Potassium Control of Plant Functions: Ecological and Agricultural Implications - PMC, accessed May 28, 2025,

Potassium Control of Plant Functions: Ecological and Agricultural Implications - PMC, accessed May 28, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil tests get K levels right - Agronomic Insights

Preview of Ptilotus polystachyus and Cichorium intybus response to phosphorus

Ptilotus polystachyus and Cichorium intybus response to phosphorus

Contextual Support Journal

Phosphorus nutrition of phosphorus-sensitive Australian native plants: threats to plant communities in a global biodiversity hotspot - PMC

Preview of Soil Acidity, Phosphorus, and Potassium Nutrient Levels: Key to Forage Nutrient Management Planning | Mississippi State University Extension Service, accessed on May 27, 2025,

Soil Acidity, Phosphorus, and Potassium Nutrient Levels: Key to Forage Nutrient Management Planning | Mississippi State University Extension Service, accessed on May 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Soil Acidity, Phosphorus, and Potassium Nutrient Levels: Key to Forage Nutrient Management Planning | Mississippi State University Extension Service, accessed on May 27, 2025

Preview of Soil physiochemical properties and microbial community structure in the Snowy Mountains

Soil physiochemical properties and microbial community structure in the Snowy Mountains

Contextual Support Journal

Grover, S. P., et al. (2023). Soil physiochemical properties and microbial community structure in the Snowy Mountains. PMC10118155.

Preview of theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 29, 2025,

theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Conservation in Alpine Catchments - The Kosciuszko Huts Association, accessed August 17, 2025,

Preview of Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ..., accessed May 12, 2025

Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ..., accessed May 12, 2025

Direct Evidence Government

Agriculture Victoria. (2025). Understanding soil tests for pastures. Farm Management.

Preview of Variations in Soil Microbial Community and Its Influencing Factors in Degradation and Restoration of Alpine Meadows

Variations in Soil Microbial Community and Its Influencing Factors in Degradation and Restoration of Alpine Meadows

Direct Evidence

Liu, Z., et al. (2022). Variations in Soil Microbial Community and Its Influencing Factors in Degradation and Restoration of Alpine Meadows. PMC9024238.

Preview of Wilson, B., et al. (2021). Distribution, nature and threats to soils of the Australian Alps: A review. Austral Ecology, 47(1), 16-36.

Wilson, B., et al. (2021). Distribution, nature and threats to soils of the Australian Alps: A review. Austral Ecology, 47(1), 16-36.

Contextual Support

Rayment, G. E., & Lyons, D. J. (2011). Soil Chemical Methods - Australasia. CSIRO Publishing.

Preview of Yang, X., et al. (2023). Distribution of sulfur in tea plantations at different elevations in tea plantations, Frontiers in Plant Science, 14.

Yang, X., et al. (2023). Distribution of sulfur in tea plantations at different elevations in tea plantations, Frontiers in Plant Science, 14.

Contextual Support Journal

Yang, X., et al. (2023). Distribution of sulfur in tea plantations at different elevations in tea plantations, Frontiers in Plant Science, 14.

Context

Region Australia
Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 10 Jun 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Reflects the upper echelon of natural potassium abundance in protected alpine ecosystems.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-ASC-CON-SOK family.