Soil Nitrogen

AUS-TDG-LVG-SON General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 1500 to 2500 mg/kg

Optimal Range: 1500 to 2500

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

"medium (0.15-0.25 %)"

Metric Definition:

Total Nitrogen in topsoil (0–10 cm)1.

Benchmark Definition:

Medium-tier target classification for southern NSW soils under sustainable pasture management, reflecting typical healthy conditions.

Justification:

This range represents the medium-tier target classification for southern NSW soils under sustainable pasture management, reflecting typical healthy conditions1.

Sources (1)

Soil quality and health in pasture systems - Holbrook Landcare Network Journal

Soil quality and health in pasture systems

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Supporting Sources (18)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

(PDF) Competition for Nitrogen between Australian Native Grasses ..., accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Competition for Nitrogen between Australian Native Grasses ..., accessed May 11, 2025

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(PDF) Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation ..., accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation ..., accessed May 11, 2025

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Preview of (PDF) Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025

(PDF) Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

section 2 water quality in the darwin region - Environment and Natural Resources

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(PDF) Managing cattle grazing intensity: effects on soil organic ...

Contextual Support Journal

Nitrogen In Soil Explained - Soil Quality Knowledge Base, accessed July 23, 2025

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(PDF) Soil carbon and inferred net primary production in high- and ..., accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Soil carbon and inferred net primary production in high- and ..., accessed May 11, 2025

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Preview of Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025,

Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

How should we manage our soils to increase soil carbon?, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source

Preview of Environmental impact of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilisers in high rainfall areas of Western Australia - Department of Agriculture and Food, accessed May 11, 2025

Environmental impact of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilisers in high rainfall areas of Western Australia - Department of Agriculture and Food, accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support

Environmental impact of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilisers in high rainfall areas of Western Australia - Department of Agriculture and Food, accessed May 11, 2025

View Source

Grazing-management-for-soil-carbon-in-Australia-A-review.pdf - University of Tasmania, accessed on June 7, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

www.utas.edu.au, accessed May 11, 2025

View Source

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

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,

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Managing competitive interactions to promote ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Managing competitive interactions to promote ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 11, 2025

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Preview of Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands: a nationally protected ecological community - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands: a nationally protected ecological community - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Approved Conservation Advice for the Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands

View Source

Nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen balance in Australian farmlands - Agronomy Australia Proceedings, accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen balance in Australian farmlands - Agronomy Australia Proceedings, accessed May 11, 2025

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Regenerative Farming | Solis for Life - Cell Squared, accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative Farming | Solis for Life - Cell Squared, accessed May 11, 2025

View Source

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

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Soil health tests & pricing - NSW Department of Primary Industries

Direct Evidence Government

Guide to Soil Test Interpretation

View Source

The Abundance of Microbial Functional Genes in Grassy Woodlands ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source

What are the optimum nutrient targets for pastures? - Soil Health Knowledgebase, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

What are the optimum nutrient targets for pastures? - Soil Health Knowledgebase, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Agricultural Biodiversity Target
Vegetation Grassland
Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 10 Jul 2026

Notes

Converted to a range of total nitrogen. Soils in this range are correlated with healthy microbial activity and adequate organic carbon cycling.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TDG-LVG-SON family.