Soil Potassium

AUS-TSR-AGR-SOK General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

156 mg/kg
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: MaximumOnly

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

Levels exceeding 156 mg/kg are considered detrimental, as they increase the risk of nutrient imbalances, leading to reduced crop quality and inefficient nutrient use.

Metric Definition:

Exchangeable soil potassium concentration in mg/kg representing the upper detrimental threshold above which nutrient imbalances and crop quality degradation occur.

Benchmark Definition:

The upper detrimental threshold is the level above which soil potassium concentrations begin to have negative consequences by disrupting the balance of other essential nutrients.

Justification:

Excess potassium outcompetes calcium and magnesium uptake, causing quality defects and reduced crop quality, thus marking a guardrail for land managers.

Sources (2)

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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, Journal

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

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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 18, 2025

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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
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Banana | K+S Aktiengesellschaft, accessed July 16, 2025,
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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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Preview of Citrus nutrition - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 16, 2025,
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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ENV509 | Module 3: Australian rainforests - an overview - Learnline, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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Preview of Fertilising avocados | Business Queensland, accessed July 16, 2025,
Fertilising avocados | Business Queensland, accessed July 16, 2025,
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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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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Living soils in agriculture | TERN Australia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

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Preview of Lowland Rainforest of Subtropical Australia ecological community - listing advice, accessed July 20, 2025,
Lowland Rainforest of Subtropical Australia ecological community - listing advice, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Biodiversity | Australia state of the environment 2021

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Preview of maca bmp pagemaker bew 18-7-08 - SoilCare Incorporated, accessed July 16, 2025,
maca bmp pagemaker bew 18-7-08 - SoilCare Incorporated, accessed July 16, 2025,
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Nutrient disorders of greenhouse Lebanese cucumbers, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

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Nutrient distribution and cycling in a subtropical ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

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

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

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Preview of Potassium and Plant Health - International Potash Institute, accessed July 16, 2025,
Potassium and Plant Health - International Potash Institute, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support

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

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Preview of Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,
Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,
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Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 28, 2025,

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Preview of Soil Health and Nutrient Management - Smartcane BMP, accessed July 16, 2025,
Soil Health and Nutrient Management - Smartcane BMP, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

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

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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,

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SOIL-SPECIFIC NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES - Sugar ..., accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence

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TROPICAL SOILS | Terrain NRM, accessed July 16, 2025,
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Preview of Understanding the units on the soil test report - Cropaia, accessed July 16, 2025,
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,

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Context

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

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 14 Mar 2026

Notes

This threshold distinguishes an ecological benchmark from a conventional agronomic target focused solely on maximizing yield.

Related Benchmarks

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

— mg/kg High
Agricultural Crop Production · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
78 mg/kg Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Pristine Reference
MinimumOnly Active v1