Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TDG-LVG-SEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

1.8 dS/m
Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 1.8
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 16 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 15 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard UpperThreshold Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

ECe values consistently exceeding 1.5 to 1.8 dS/m begin to cause salinity stress and negative shifts in native plant communities.

Metric Definition:

Upper detrimental threshold of soil electrical conductivity beyond which ecological health is compromised.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the upper detrimental threshold of soil electrical conductivity in temperate dry woodlands and native grasslands under livestock grazing, beyond which ecological health is compromised due to salinity stress.

Justification:

Based on general pasture guidelines and native flora sensitivity to salinity.

Sources (2)

Preview of estuaries.dwer.wa.gov.au, accessed May 12, 2025
estuaries.dwer.wa.gov.au, accessed May 12, 2025 Journal

estuaries.dwer.wa.gov.au, accessed May 12, 2025

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

Understanding soil tests for pastures

View Source

Supporting Sources (20)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Determining reference conditions for management and ..., accessed August 5, 2025,
(PDF) Determining reference conditions for management and ..., accessed August 5, 2025,
Direct Evidence

(PDF) Impacts of tree invasion on floristic composition of subtropical grasslands on the Bunya Mountains, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed May 19, 2025

View Source
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 Journal

Fertilisers and the environment - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed May 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of A Guide To Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC): Description, Importance & Soil EC Maps, accessed May 16, 2025,
A Guide To Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC): Description, Importance & Soil EC Maps, accessed May 16, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Impacts of salinity | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government

View Source
Preview of Carbon farming for primary producers - PIRSA's, accessed May 12, 2025
Carbon farming for primary producers - PIRSA's, accessed May 12, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Carbon farming for primary producers - PIRSA's, accessed May 12, 2025

View Source
Preview of CATTLE AUSTRALIA - Land Management Commitment Strategy, accessed May 12, 2025
CATTLE AUSTRALIA - Land Management Commitment Strategy, accessed May 12, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

CATTLE AUSTRALIA - Land Management Commitment Strategy, accessed May 12, 2025

View Source
Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 12, 2025
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
Preview of Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,
Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Managing grazing to increase ground cover in rangelands: using remote sensing to detect change | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 12, 2025,
Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 12, 2025,
Contextual Support

The underestimated biodiversity of tropical grassy biomes - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Impacts of Rotational Grazing on Soil Carbon in Native Grass-Based ..., accessed August 5, 2025,
Impacts of Rotational Grazing on Soil Carbon in Native Grass-Based ..., accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Impacts of Rotational Grazing on Soil Carbon in Native Grass-Based Pastures in Southern Australia | PLOS One - Research journals

View Source
Preview of Monitoring soil quality for central tablelands grazing systems | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 12, 2025
Monitoring soil quality for central tablelands grazing systems | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 12, 2025
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Monitoring soil quality for central tablelands grazing systems | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 12, 2025

View Source
Preview of Native pastures - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed May 12, 2025
Native pastures - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed May 12, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Australia's Native Vegetation Framework - DAFF, accessed August 28, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Regenerative Agriculture Metrics: Soil chapter, accessed May 12, 2025
Regenerative Agriculture Metrics: Soil chapter, accessed May 12, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

WBCSD. Regenerative Agriculture: Soil Health Metrics.

View Source
Preview of Relationship between soil apparent electrical conductivity and forage yield in temperate pastures according to nitrogen availability and growing season - ResearchGate, accessed May 12, 2025
Relationship between soil apparent electrical conductivity and forage yield in temperate pastures according to nitrogen availability and growing season - ResearchGate, accessed May 12, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Relationship between soil apparent electrical conductivity and forage yield in temperate pastures according to nitrogen availability and growing season - ResearchGate, accessed May 12, 2025

View Source
Preview of Restoring ecological function in temperate grassy woodlands: Manipulating soil nutrients, exotic annuals and native perennial grasses through carbon supplements and spring burns | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 12, 2025
Restoring ecological function in temperate grassy woodlands: Manipulating soil nutrients, exotic annuals and native perennial grasses through carbon supplements and spring burns | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 12, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Increasing and declining native species in urban remnant grasslands respond differently to nitrogen addition and disturbance, accessed May 19, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Snapshot of Australian Agriculture 2025 - DAFF, accessed July 8, 2025
Snapshot of Australian Agriculture 2025 - DAFF, accessed July 8, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Snapshot of Australian Agriculture 2025 - DAFF, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil health - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed May 12, 2025
Soil health - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed May 12, 2025
Contextual Support

Soil health - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed May 12, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil Health Indicators Used in Temperate Climates for Sustainable Soil Management | Soil Science Cases - CABI Digital Library, accessed May 12, 2025
Soil Health Indicators Used in Temperate Climates for Sustainable Soil Management | Soil Science Cases - CABI Digital Library, accessed May 12, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed August 28, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed May 12, 2025
Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed May 12, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed May 12, 2025

View Source
Preview of Western Grassland Reserve, accessed May 12, 2025
Western Grassland Reserve, accessed May 12, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Western Grassland Reserve, accessed May 12, 2025

View Source
Preview of www.barrierreef.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,
www.barrierreef.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Potassium for high-performing pastures | Nutrient Advantage, accessed July 28, 2025,

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 15 Mar 2026

Notes

Values above 2.0 dS/m indicate significant degradation from best available condition.

Related Benchmarks

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

0.02 dS/m Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
MinimumOnly Active v1
— dS/m Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1