Soil Structure & Compaction

AUS-TMS-CON-SSC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

1500 kPa

Direction: Lower 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

Lower Critical Threshold for Ecological Health (Onset of Significant Harm): Proposed Threshold: > 1500 kPa.

Metric Definition:

Penetrometer resistance threshold above which significant negative impacts on root elongation, water infiltration, and soil aeration begin.

Benchmark Definition:

A penetrometer resistance threshold above 1500 kPa indicates the onset of significant ecological harm due to soil compaction in Tropical Monsoonal Savannas under conservation management.

Justification:

1500 kPa is a widely recognized point where root growth restrictions become general for many plant species.

Supporting Sources (23)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

(PDF) Australian Savanna ecosystems - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Australian Savanna ecosystems - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025

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Author's personal copy - Texas A&M AgriLife

Contextual Support Journal

Author's personal copy - Texas A&M AgriLife

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ciat-library.ciat.cgiar.org

Contextual Support Journal

Challenging the maximum rooting depth paradigm in grasslands and savannas

View Source

CSIRO Data Access Portal

Contextual Support Government

CSIRO Data Access Portal

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Ecological Sustainability of Military Training Areas in Australia's Tropical Savannas | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

Ecological Sustainability of Military Training Areas in Australia's Tropical Savannas | Request PDF - ResearchGate

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Effects of fire frequency and mowing on a ... - CSIRO Publishing

Contextual Support Journal

Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC

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Fire promotes functional plant diversity and modifies soil carbon dynamics in tropical savanna | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

Short-term effects of experimental fire for a soil under eucalyptus forest (SE Australia), accessed May 20, 2025

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Preview of Hippopotamus and livestock grazing near water points: consequences for vegetation cover, plant species richness and composition in African savannas - Frontiers

Hippopotamus and livestock grazing near water points: consequences for vegetation cover, plant species richness and composition in African savannas - Frontiers

Contextual Support Journal

Hippopotamus and livestock grazing near water points: consequences for vegetation cover, plant species richness and composition in African savannas - Frontiers

View Source

Resting Subtropical Grasslands from Grazing in the Wet Season ...

Contextual Support Journal

Resting Subtropical Grasslands from Grazing in the Wet Season Boosts Biocrust Hotspots to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed July 15, 2025,

View Source

Restoration of Australian Subtropical Grasslands - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland, accessed July 15, 2025,

Contextual Support

The soil of abandoned farmland, Cumberland Plain Woodland and restored vegetation - Research Profiles and Repository, accessed July 15, 2025,

View Source

Review of threats to biodiversity in the Northern Territory - Environment and Natural Resources

Contextual Support Journal

Review of threats to biodiversity in the Northern Territory - Environment and Natural Resources

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Saraji East Mining Lease Project Baseline Environmental ... - BHP

Contextual Support Journal

Natural Recovery Dynamics of Alfalfa Field Soils under Different Degrees of Mechanical Compaction - ResearchGate

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Savanna soil water content effect on its shear strength-compaction relationship - Bioline.org

Contextual Support

Savanna soil water content effect on its shear strength-compaction relationship - Bioline.org

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Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands: a critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - CSIRO Publishing

Contextual Support Journal

Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands: a critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - CSIRO Publishing

View Source

Soil Compaction Explained - Soil Quality Knowledge Base, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

high soil strength - fact sheet - GRDC

View Source

Soil irrigation frequencies, compaction, air porosity and shear stress effects on soybean root development - SciELO México

Contextual Support

Soil irrigation frequencies, compaction, air porosity and shear stress effects on soybean root development - SciELO México

View Source

Soil Quality and Its Management in Humid Subtropical and Tropical Environments - UKnowledge, accessed May 15, 2025,

Contextual Support

Soil Quality and Its Management in Humid Subtropical and Tropical Environments - UKnowledge

View Source

TERN - Australia's Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Australia's State of the Forests Report 2018 - DAFF, accessed July 31, 2025,

View Source

Preview of The effects of soil compaction on wheat seedling root growth are specific to soil texture and soil moisture status - Rothamsted Repository

The effects of soil compaction on wheat seedling root growth are specific to soil texture and soil moisture status - Rothamsted Repository

Contextual Support

The effects of soil compaction on wheat seedling root growth are specific to soil texture and soil moisture status - Rothamsted Repository

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The science of soil compaction - Department of Agriculture and Food

Contextual Support

The science of soil compaction - Department of Agriculture and Food

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Uncovering root compaction response mechanisms: new insights and opportunities - PMC

Contextual Support Journal

Uncovering root compaction response mechanisms: new insights and opportunities - PMC

View Source

www.frdc.com.au

Contextual Support

www.frdc.com.au

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www.greeningaustralia.org.au, accessed May 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

www.greeningaustralia.org.au, accessed May 11, 2025

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 10 Jun 2026

Notes

Exceeding this threshold leads to reduced rooting depth, decreased water and nutrient access, and shifts in plant community composition. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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