Soil Nitrogen — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

Benchmark Value

450 mg/kg

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: MaximumOnly

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

A persistent elevation of total soil nitrogen significantly above the 450 mg/kg benchmark is considered detrimental.

Metric Definition:

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

Benchmark Definition:

This threshold marks the upper detrimental limit above which soil nitrogen causes negative ecosystem impacts in production forestry soils of the Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands biome.

Justification:

Based on ecological risks such as invasive species promotion, nutrient imbalances, nitrogen leaching, and soil acidification associated with elevated nitrogen levels.

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

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,

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,

Australian forest profile, accessed May 15, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Australian forest profile

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,

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,

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,

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,

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,

$Preview of Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed August 5, 2025,$

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

$Preview of Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed July 30, 2025$

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,

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,

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

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

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

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

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,

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,

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,

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,

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,

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,

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,

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,

Context

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

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 10 Jun 2026

Notes

Represents a state of nutrient pollution where negative ecosystem impacts begin to occur. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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