Soil Potassium

AUS-TSR-AGR-SOK General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 98 to 156 mg/kg

Thresholds: Lower: 78, Upper: 156

Optimal Range: 98 to 156

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. The scoring engine uses 15 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 14 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

An Optimal Range of 98–156 mg/kg of exchangeable potassium has been identified as the benchmark for the best available condition.

Metric Definition:

Exchangeable soil potassium concentration in mg/kg representing soil potassium levels in agricultural crop production systems.

Benchmark Definition:

The optimal range represents the 'sweet spot' for soil potassium in a healthy, regenerative agroecosystem where potassium is sufficiently abundant to be non-limiting but not so high as to cause detrimental imbalances.

Justification:

The range is derived from a perennial cropping system where long-term soil health, nutrient balance, and fruit quality are paramount, and the upper limit avoids negative ecological consequences of excess potassium such as cation antagonism.

Sources (2)

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Nutrition: Potassium (K) - Australian Mango Industry Association, accessed July 16, 2025, Journal

Nutrition: Potassium (K) - Australian Mango Industry Association, accessed July 16, 2025,

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Soil Health and Nutrient Management - Smartcane BMP, accessed July 16, 2025, GreyLiterature

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Supporting Sources (34)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Potassium Nutrition of Fruit Crops : Comparative Evaluation of Potassic Fertilizers, accessed July 16, 2025,

(PDF) Potassium Nutrition of Fruit Crops : Comparative Evaluation of Potassic Fertilizers, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Potassium Nutrition of Fruit Crops : Comparative Evaluation of Potassic Fertilizers, accessed July 16, 2025,

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A Revegetation Guide for Sub-Tropical Forest - Greening Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

A Revegetation Guide for Sub-Tropical Forest - Greening Australia, accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of An integrated approach to crop nutrition in macadamias - Yara Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,

An integrated approach to crop nutrition in macadamias - Yara Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Irrelevant

An integrated approach to crop nutrition in macadamias - Yara Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,

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Appendix B. Technical summary - - Hort Innovation, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

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Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Management Standards and Procedures for timber harvesting operations in Victoria’s State forests

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Banana | K+S Aktiengesellschaft, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Banana | K+S Aktiengesellschaft, accessed July 16, 2025,

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Cation Exchange Capacity - Local Land Services, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support

Cation Exchange Capacity - Local Land Services, accessed July 13, 2025

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Citrus nutrition - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Citrus nutrition - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 16, 2025,

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Development of key soil health indicators for the Australian banana ..., accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Development of key soil health indicators for the Australian banana ..., accessed July 16, 2025,

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Contextual Support GreyLiterature

NUTRIENT CYCLING IN MOIST TROPICAL ... - Annual Reviews

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Contextual Support Government

Macadamia grower's guide 2022 - nutrition and soil health – part 1: the foundations - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 16, 2025,

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Improved fruit quality and robustness in avocado supply chains (mineral nutrition) - Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Improved fruit quality and robustness in avocado supply chains (mineral nutrition) - Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, accessed July 16, 2025,

Preview of Improving Avocado Fruit Quality through Tree Nutrition - Present Knowledge - Avocadosource.com, accessed July 16, 2025,

Improving Avocado Fruit Quality through Tree Nutrition - Present Knowledge - Avocadosource.com, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Improving Avocado Fruit Quality through Tree Nutrition - Present Knowledge - Avocadosource.com, accessed July 16, 2025,

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Land management for sugarcane farms | Business Queensland, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

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Contextual Support Government

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Contextual Support Journal

Biodiversity | Australia state of the environment 2021

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Contextual Support Journal

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Nutrient disorders of greenhouse Lebanese cucumbers, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

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Contextual Support Journal

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Nutritional summary for bananas - Yara Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Irrelevant

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Potassium and Plant Health - International Potash Institute, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support

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Contextual Support Journal

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Regenerative Agriculture Australia: Benefits and Practices - SONIC Natural Farming, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative Agriculture Australia: Benefits and Practices - SONIC Natural Farming, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Regenerative Agriculture Goes Mainstream: Trends and Impacts - Earth.Org, accessed July 16, 2025,

Regenerative Agriculture Goes Mainstream: Trends and Impacts - Earth.Org, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative Agriculture Goes Mainstream: Trends and Impacts - Earth.Org, accessed July 16, 2025,

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Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

NCC: Regenerative Agriculture and Soil Health - Wet Tropics Plan, accessed July 27, 2025,

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Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 28, 2025,

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Soil Health for Bananas | Terrain NRM, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support Journal

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Soil Specific Management Guidelines for Sugarcane Production - Sugar Research Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,

Direct Evidence

Soil Specific Management Guidelines for Sugarcane Production - Sugar Research Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,

Preview of Soil Specific Management Guidelines for Sugarcane Production - Sugar Research Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,

Soil Specific Management Guidelines for Sugarcane Production - Sugar Research Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,

Direct Evidence

Soil Specific Management Guidelines for Sugarcane Production - Sugar Research Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,

Preview of SOIL-SPECIFIC NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES - Sugar ..., accessed July 16, 2025,

SOIL-SPECIFIC NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES - Sugar ..., accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence

SOIL-SPECIFIC NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES - Sugar ...

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Sustainable agriculture - Wikipedia, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Sustainable agriculture - Wikipedia, accessed July 16, 2025,

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TROPICAL SOILS | Terrain NRM, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Water Retention - Oz Soils 4 - UNE, accessed May 11, 2025,

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Understanding the units on the soil test report - Cropaia, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support

Understanding the units on the soil test report - Cropaia, accessed July 16, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 14 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 78 mg/kg. Upper Detrimental Threshold: 156 mg/kg. Lower Critical Threshold: A level below 78 mg/kg is considered critically low, compromising essential plant functions and productivity. Upper Detrimental Threshold: Levels exceeding 156 mg/kg are considered detrimental, increasing risk of nutrient imbalances and reduced crop quality.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSR-AGR-SOK family.