Soil Potassium

AUS-ASC-LVG-SOK General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

80 mg/kg

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: MinimumOnly

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 2 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Soil K levels that are consistently below the "Low" agronomic thresholds outlined by Agriculture Victoria (e.g., <80 mg/kg for Sandy Loam) would provide a strong indication of degrading conditions and compromised ecosystem function.

Metric Definition:

Soil potassium concentration measured as Colwell K or Exchangeable K in mg/kg.

Benchmark Definition:

Critical lower threshold for soil potassium concentration below which ecological function is impaired in sandy loam soils under grazing in the Australian alpine and subalpine biome.

Justification:

Inferred from agronomic 'Low' values and evidence of potassium depletion under grazing pressure.

Sources (2)

Effects of grazing on alpine grassland soil available nutrients across the Tibetan Plateau Journal

Effects of grazing on alpine grassland soil available nutrients across the Tibetan Plateau

View Source

Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ..., accessed May 12, 2025 Government

Understanding soil tests for pastures

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Supporting Sources (12)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Accessing disparate soil data | TERN Australia

Contextual Support Methodology Source Government

Accessing disparate soil data - TERN Australia

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Action statement No.266

Contextual Support Journal

Action statement No.266

View Source

Alpine Grazing Taskforce. (2005). Report of the Alpine Grazing Taskforce. Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria.

Contextual Support Journal

Biodiversity | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed on May 25, 2025,

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Alpine National Park - DCCEEW

Contextual Support Government

Alpine National Park - DCCEEW

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Australian Alps Montane Grasslands | EBSCO Research Starters

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Australian Alps Montane Grasslands | EBSCO Research Starters, accessed on May 28, 2025,

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Australian Soils and Landscapes | Monitoring & Data | TERN - esoil.io, accessed July 30, 2025,

Methodology Source Government

Australian Soils and Landscapes | Monitoring & Data | TERN - esoil.io, accessed July 17, 2025,

View Source

Do regenerative grazing management practices ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 12, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 11, 2025,

View Source

Nature and biodiversity | Australian Alps National Parks

Contextual Support Government

Joint media release: eDNA results reveal rich biodiversity in the Murray–Darling Basin

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Regenerative Grazing Australia

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative Grazing Australia

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STATEMENTS OF UNACCEPTABILITY OF GRAZING IN THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS

Contextual Support Journal

STATEMENTS OF UNACCEPTABILITY OF GRAZING IN THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS

View Source

The ecology of domestic grazing in the Australian Alps | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The ecology of domestic grazing in the Australian Alps | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source

theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 15 Mar 2026

Notes

No precise ecological threshold defined; inference based on agronomic guidelines and observed degradation patterns. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-ASC-LVG-SOK family.