Soil Potassium

AUS-AKW-CON-SOK General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

300 mg/kg
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. The scoring engine uses 5 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 4 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

A soil potassium level greater than 300 mg/kg can be considered an indicator of a system that has been pushed beyond its natural state, where the potential for detrimental ecological effects increases.

Metric Definition:

Upper detrimental threshold of available soil potassium above which negative ecological effects occur.

Benchmark Definition:

Upper threshold indicating the potassium concentration above which ecosystem risks increase in Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands under conservation management.

Justification:

Based on agronomic data indicating luxury/excess potassium levels and ecological risks of nutrient imbalance and soil structure degradation.

Sources (1)

Preview of Estimating woody vegetation cover in arid and semi-arid rangelands - Murdoch Research Portal, accessed July 12, 2025,
Estimating woody vegetation cover in arid and semi-arid rangelands - Murdoch Research Portal, accessed July 12, 2025, Journal

Agronomic and ecological studies on potassium excess effects

View Source

Supporting Sources (3)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of "Soil potassium-crop response calibration relationships and criteria for field crops grown in Australia"
"Soil potassium-crop response calibration relationships and criteria for field crops grown in Australia"
Contextual Support Journal

"Soil Groups of Western Australia"

View Source
Preview of (PDF) Mineral Nutrition of Plants in Australia's Arid Zone - ResearchGate, accessed July 13, 2025
(PDF) Mineral Nutrition of Plants in Australia's Arid Zone - ResearchGate, accessed July 13, 2025
Contextual Support

Putting the P in Ptilotus: a phosphorus-accumulating herb native to Australia - PMC

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor Plains Xeric Shrublands | One Earth, accessed July 26, 2025,
Nullarbor Plains Xeric Shrublands | One Earth, accessed July 26, 2025,
Contextual Support

Ecological literature on nutrient adaptation in arid ecosystems

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 10 Jun 2026

Notes

Levels above this threshold may induce nutrient imbalances and soil structural degradation, posing risks to ecosystem integrity.

Related Benchmarks

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

80 mg/kg Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
Point Active v1
30 mg/kg Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
MinimumOnly Active v1
— mg/kg Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1