Soil Nitrogen

AUS-TGP-CON-SON General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 1500 to 3000 mg/kg

Optimal Range: 1500 to 3000

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

The benchmark of 1500–3000 mg/kg is derived primarily from SLGA data for high-integrity conservation areas on the Victorian Volcanic Plain.

Metric Definition:

Total Soil Nitrogen (TN) in the top 10 cm of soil

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the optimal range of Total Soil Nitrogen in the top 10 cm of basalt-derived cracking clays in temperate grassy woodlands and plains, reflecting naturally more fertile soils.

Justification:

Derived from SLGA data for high-integrity conservation areas with moderate confidence due to lack of direct field measurements.

Sources (1)

Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Nitrogen (3" resolution) - Release 2 Journal

Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Nitrogen (3" resolution) - Release 2

View Source

Supporting Sources (5)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

(PDF) Determining reference conditions for management and ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Effects of Stock Grazing on Biodiversity Values in Temperate Native Grasslands and Grassy Woodlands in SE Australia: A Literature Review - ACT Government

View Source

Australia's Biodiversity and Climate Change - DAFF, accessed August 10, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

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

View Source

Preview of Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states

Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states

Direct Evidence

Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states

View Source

Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states - ResearchGate, accessed August 4, 2025,

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

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 10 Jun 2026

Notes

Represents naturally more fertile soils with higher TN baseline.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-CON-SON family.