Soil Nitrogen

AUS-AMR-FOR-SON General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

450 mg/kg
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: Point

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

CompositeFramework Primary MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

The derived benchmark for total soil nitrogen in the top 30 cm of soil is 450 mg/kg.

Metric Definition:

Total soil nitrogen concentration in the top 30 cm of soil.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the best available condition for total soil nitrogen in production forestry soils of the Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands biome, reflecting a healthy native arid woodland ecosystem.

Justification:

Based on measurements from an undisturbed Acacia aneura (Mulga) open-forest on a Red Kandosol, representing a healthy, stable native arid woodland ecosystem as a proxy for sustainable production forestry.

Sources (1)

Preview of THE SUSTAINABILITY OF MULGA LANDS AFTER CLEARING – WHAT DO CHANGES IN SOIL CARBON AND SOIL NITROGEN SHOW? - NSERL, accessed July 30, 2025,
THE SUSTAINABILITY OF MULGA LANDS AFTER CLEARING – WHAT DO CHANGES IN SOIL CARBON AND SOIL NITROGEN SHOW? - NSERL, accessed July 30, 2025, Journal

THE SUSTAINABILITY OF MULGA LANDS AFTER CLEARING – WHAT DO CHANGES IN SOIL CARBON AND SOIL NITROGEN SHOW? - NSERL

View Source

Supporting Sources (23)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 2025 Guide: Australian Forestry & Sustainable Farming Standards, accessed July 30, 2025,
2025 Guide: Australian Forestry & Sustainable Farming Standards, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

2025 Guide: Australian Forestry & Sustainable Farming Standards, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Australia's Framework of Criteria and Indicators - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,
Australia's Framework of Criteria and Indicators - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Australia's Framework of Criteria and Indicators - DAFF, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Australian forest profile, accessed May 15, 2025,
Australian forest profile, accessed May 15, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Australian forest profile

View Source
Preview of Australian National Soil Archive - CSIRO, accessed July 30, 2025,
Australian National Soil Archive - CSIRO, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Microbial Biogeochemical Cycling of Nitrogen in Arid Ecosystems - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Changes in soil carbon and nitrogen stocks following tree clearing were estimated at 32 rangeland sites in central and southern Queensland
Changes in soil carbon and nitrogen stocks following tree clearing were estimated at 32 rangeland sites in central and southern Queensland
Contextual Support Journal

Changes in soil carbon and soil nitrogen after tree clearing in the semi-arid rangelands of Queensland - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Does nitrogen limit the growth of native eucalypt forests:some observations for mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 30, 2025,
Does nitrogen limit the growth of native eucalypt forests:some observations for mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support

Does nitrogen limit the growth of native eucalypt forests:some observations for mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Effect of nitrogen addition on the invasive grass Phragmites australis and a native competitor Spartina pectinata - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,
Effect of nitrogen addition on the invasive grass Phragmites australis and a native competitor Spartina pectinata - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Effect of nitrogen addition on the invasive grass Phragmites australis and a native competitor Spartina pectinata - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Improved forest management - CSIRO, accessed July 12, 2025,
Improved forest management - CSIRO, accessed July 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Ecosystem wicks: Woodland trees enhance water infiltration in a fragmented agricultural landscape in eastern Australia, accessed May 15, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed August 5, 2025,
Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Effect of fire and tree‐grass patches on soil nitrogen in Australian tropical savannas

View Source
Preview of Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed July 30, 2025
Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Total soil organic matter and its labile pools following mulga (Acacia aneura) clearing for pasture development and cropping 1. Total and labile carbon - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Microbial Biogeochemical Cycling of Nitrogen in Arid Ecosystems - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 10, 2025,
Microbial Biogeochemical Cycling of Nitrogen in Arid Ecosystems - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil nitrogen dynamics in natural forest ecosystem: a review - Frontiers, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Paired Site Sampling for Soil Carbon (and Nitrogen) Estimation - Queensland - NCAS Technical Report No. 37 - DCCEEW, accessed July 30, 2025, )%20Carbon%20Estimation%20-%20Queensland.pdf
Paired Site Sampling for Soil Carbon (and Nitrogen) Estimation - Queensland - NCAS Technical Report No. 37 - DCCEEW, accessed July 30, 2025, )%20Carbon%20Estimation%20-%20Queensland.pdf
Contextual Support

Paired Site Sampling for Soil Carbon (and Nitrogen) Estimation - Queensland - NCAS Technical Report No. 37 - DCCEEW, accessed July 30, 2025, )%20Carbon%20Estimation%20-%20Queensland.pdf

View Source
Preview of Review of C:N Ratios in Vegetation, Litter and Soil Under Australian Native Forests and Plantations - DCCEEW
Review of C:N Ratios in Vegetation, Litter and Soil Under Australian Native Forests and Plantations - DCCEEW
Contextual Support Journal

Review of C:N Ratios in Vegetation, Litter and Soil ... - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Nitrogen (3" resolution) - Release 2 - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed August 5, 2025,
Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Nitrogen (3" resolution) - Release 2 - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Geology | Norfolk Island National Park | Parks Australia

View Source
Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - CSIRO, accessed July 30, 2025,
Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - CSIRO, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - CSIRO

View Source
Preview of Soil Characteristics and Fertility of the Unique Jarrah Forest of ...
Soil Characteristics and Fertility of the Unique Jarrah Forest of ...
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Characteristics and Fertility of the Unique Jarrah Forest of ..., accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil nitrogen availability favours the growth but not germination of secondary invaders after clearing invasive Acacia saligna | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Soil nitrogen availability favours the growth but not germination of secondary invaders after clearing invasive Acacia saligna | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Contextual Support

Soil nitrogen availability favours the growth but not germination of secondary invaders after clearing invasive Acacia saligna | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
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,
Contextual Support Government

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

View Source
Preview of Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed July 20, 2025,
Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Sustainable soil and land management - Department for Environment and Water, accessed July 30, 2025,
Sustainable soil and land management - Department for Environment and Water, accessed July 30, 2025,
Regulatory Framework Government

Trees and Soil Health - Private Forests Tasmania, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of The changing the availability of nutrients in global grasslands - TERN Australia, accessed July 30, 2025,
The changing the availability of nutrients in global grasslands - TERN Australia, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

The changing the availability of nutrients in global grasslands - TERN Australia, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Total soil organic matter and its labile pools following mulga (Acacia aneura) clearing for pasture development and cropping. 2. Total and labile nitrogen - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Soil Research, accessed July 30, 2025,
Total soil organic matter and its labile pools following mulga (Acacia aneura) clearing for pasture development and cropping. 2. Total and labile nitrogen - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Soil Research, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support

Total soil organic matter and its labile pools following mulga (Acacia aneura) clearing for pasture development and cropping. 2. Total and labile nitrogen - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Soil Research, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Understanding the Nitrogen Cycle: A Balancing Act in Australian Agriculture - KG2, accessed July 25, 2025,
Understanding the Nitrogen Cycle: A Balancing Act in Australian Agriculture - KG2, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Nitrogen Rather Than Phosphorus Limits the Productivity of the Dominant Tree Species at Mine-Disturbed Ultramafic Areas in the S - Griffith Research Online, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

This benchmark is a proxy-based estimate due to lack of direct data for production forestry in this biome. It reflects the natural soil nitrogen pool to be conserved. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AMR-FOR-SON family.

300 mg/kg Low
Production Forestry · Not Stated
MinimumOnly Active v1
450 mg/kg Low
Production Forestry · Not Stated
MaximumOnly Active v1