Soil Structure & Compaction

AUS-TGP-AGR-SSC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

1500 kPa

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 14 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 13 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

The following benchmark represents the best available condition for soil structure and compaction in agricultural cropping systems within Australia's Temperate Grassy Woodlands and Plains biome. Indicator Name: Soil Structure & Compaction, Reference Value: < 1500, Unit: kPa

Metric Definition:

Soil structure, the arrangement of sand, silt, and clay particles into aggregates, represents the primary physical architecture of the terrestrial ecosystem.

Benchmark Definition:

A benchmark representing the best available condition for soil structure and compaction in agricultural cropping systems within Australia's Temperate Grassy Woodlands and Plains biome.

Justification:

This benchmark represents the mean penetrometer resistance found in the topsoil of minimally disturbed remnant grassy woodlands in NSW, which serve as an aspirational ecological reference for this biome. This value is considered achievable in the non-trafficked crop zones of long-term, best-practice regenerative cropping systems.

Sources (1)

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

(PDF) Determining reference conditions for management and ..., accessed August 5, 2025, Journal

Effects of Stock Grazing on Biodiversity Values in Temperate Native Grasslands and Grassy Woodlands in SE Australia: A Literature Review - ACT Government

Supporting Sources (39)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) The effect of soil compaction on germination and early growth ..., accessed August 4, 2025,

(PDF) The effect of soil compaction on germination and early growth ..., accessed August 4, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

The effect of soil compaction on germination and early growth of Eucalyptus albens and an exotic annual grass - ResearchGate

Preview of Are Cover Crops the Answer? - Integrity Soils, accessed August 4, 2025,

Are Cover Crops the Answer? - Integrity Soils, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Are Cover Crops the Answer? - Integrity Soils, accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of Chapter D6. Improving soil structure by crop rotation, accessed August 4, 2025,

Chapter D6. Improving soil structure by crop rotation, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Chapter D6. Improving soil structure by crop rotation, accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of Compaction | VRO - Victorian Resources Online, accessed August 4, 2025,

Compaction | VRO - Victorian Resources Online, accessed August 4, 2025,

Irrelevant

3- Build and maintain soil nutrients to improve soil fertility and health in all pasture zones

Preview of Compaction Has Critical Consequences For Crops - Colorado Department of Education, accessed August 4, 2025,

Compaction Has Critical Consequences For Crops - Colorado Department of Education, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support

Compaction Has Critical Consequences For Crops - Colorado Department of Education, accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of Compaction's Negative Effects on Soil Structure | Great Plains Ag, accessed August 4, 2025,

Compaction's Negative Effects on Soil Structure | Great Plains Ag, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Compaction's Negative Effects on Soil Structure | Great Plains Ag, accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of Controlled Traffic Farming | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed August 4, 2025,

Controlled Traffic Farming | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed August 4, 2025,

Methodology Source GreyLiterature

high soil strength - fact sheet - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC)

Preview of CSIRO Research Publications Repository - Home Page, accessed August 4, 2025,

CSIRO Research Publications Repository - Home Page, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

CSIRO Research Publications Repository - Home Page, accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of Full article: Impacts of cover cropping and organic amendments on soil physical quality under temperate climate - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed August 4, 2025,

Full article: Impacts of cover cropping and organic amendments on soil physical quality under temperate climate - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support

Full article: Impacts of cover cropping and organic amendments on soil physical quality under temperate climate - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of GRDC Groundcover Article: National blueprint to standardise soil health across Australian agriculture - The Waite, accessed August 4, 2025,

GRDC Groundcover Article: National blueprint to standardise soil health across Australian agriculture - The Waite, accessed August 4, 2025,

Irrelevant

GRDC Groundcover Article: National blueprint to standardise soil health across Australian agriculture - The Waite, accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of Monitoring the behaviour of Australian Vertosols in response to the shrink–swell characteristic and cotton picker traffic - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Soil Research, accessed August 4, 2025,

Monitoring the behaviour of Australian Vertosols in response to the shrink–swell characteristic and cotton picker traffic - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Soil Research, accessed August 4, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

Monitoring the behaviour of Australian Vertosols in response to the shrink–swell characteristic and cotton picker traffic - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Soil Research, accessed July 17, 2025

Preview of National blueprint to standardise soil health across Australian ..., accessed August 4, 2025,

National blueprint to standardise soil health across Australian ..., accessed August 4, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Government

National blueprint to standardise soil health across Australian agriculture | GroundCover, accessed July 8, 2025

Preview of National Soil Monitoring Program - CSIRO, accessed August 4, 2025,

National Soil Monitoring Program - CSIRO, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

National Soil Monitoring Program - CSIRO, accessed July 8, 2025

Preview of National Soil Monitoring Program - DAFF, accessed August 4, 2025,

National Soil Monitoring Program - DAFF, accessed August 4, 2025,

Methodology Source Government

National Soil Monitoring Program - DAFF, accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of New insights into high soil strength and crop plants; implications for grain crop production in the Australian environment - ResearchGate, accessed August 4, 2025,

New insights into high soil strength and crop plants; implications for grain crop production in the Australian environment - ResearchGate, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Using acidic sand to detoxify subsoil boron - Grower Group Alliance, accessed July 22, 2025

Preview of No-Till Farming Victoria | Controlled Traffic | Zero Tillage - VicNoTill, accessed August 4, 2025,

No-Till Farming Victoria | Controlled Traffic | Zero Tillage - VicNoTill, accessed August 4, 2025,

Methodology Source GreyLiterature

No-Till Farming Victoria | Controlled Traffic | Zero Tillage - VicNoTill

Preview of No-Till: The Quiet Revolution - USDA ARS, accessed August 4, 2025,

No-Till: The Quiet Revolution - USDA ARS, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) The effect of soil compaction on germination and early growth ...

Preview of Program spotlight: Soil performance metrics - Soil CRC, accessed August 4, 2025,

Program spotlight: Soil performance metrics - Soil CRC, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support

Program spotlight: Soil performance metrics - Soil CRC, accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of Protect your soil from compaction - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed August 4, 2025,

Protect your soil from compaction - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed August 4, 2025,

Irrelevant

Rangeland Soil Quality Compaction, accessed July 28, 2025

Preview of Reducing risks to canola establishment under marginal conditions – defining the fundamentals - GRDC, accessed August 4, 2025,

Reducing risks to canola establishment under marginal conditions – defining the fundamentals - GRDC, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Reducing risks to canola establishment under marginal conditions – defining the fundamentals - GRDC, accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CONE PENETRATION RESISTANCE, BULK DENSITY, AND MOISTURE CONTENT IN UNCULTIVATED, REPACKED, AND CULTIVATED, accessed August 4, 2025,

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CONE PENETRATION RESISTANCE, BULK DENSITY, AND MOISTURE CONTENT IN UNCULTIVATED, REPACKED, AND CULTIVATED, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CONE PENETRATION RESISTANCE, BULK DENSITY, AND MOISTURE CONTENT IN UNCULTIVATED, REPACKED, AND CULTIVATED, accessed May 28, 2025

Preview of Restore the Soil: Prosper the Nation, accessed May 11, 2025

Restore the Soil: Prosper the Nation, accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia

Preview of Root elongation, water stress, and mechanical impedance: a review ..., accessed August 4, 2025,

Root elongation, water stress, and mechanical impedance: a review ..., accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

National blueprint to standardise soil health across Australian agriculture - The Waite

Preview of Safflower root and shoot growth affected by soil compaction - SciELO, accessed August 4, 2025,

Safflower root and shoot growth affected by soil compaction - SciELO, accessed August 4, 2025,

Direct Evidence

Safflower root and shoot growth affected by soil compaction - SciELO

Preview of Short- and long-term consequences of zero/minimum tillage on crops' productivity and soil environment? | ResearchGate, accessed August 4, 2025,

Short- and long-term consequences of zero/minimum tillage on crops' productivity and soil environment? | ResearchGate, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Short- and long-term consequences of zero/minimum tillage on crops' productivity and soil environment? | ResearchGate, accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of Soil compaction | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed August 4, 2025,

Soil compaction | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture - MDPI

Preview of Soil Compaction Affects the Growth and Establishment of Street Trees in Urban Australia, accessed August 4, 2025,

Soil Compaction Affects the Growth and Establishment of Street Trees in Urban Australia, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil compaction around Eucalyptus grandis roots: a micromorphological study, accessed August 10, 2025,

Preview of Soil Compaction in Agricultural Production | Pioneer® Seeds, accessed August 4, 2025,

Soil Compaction in Agricultural Production | Pioneer® Seeds, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Health Assessment Part IV: Soil Penetration Resistance and Plant Roots – Soil and Water Conservation Laboratory Manual - New Prairie Press Open Book Publishing, accessed July 22, 2025

Preview of Soil Compaction: An inevitable part of modern agriculture or a symptom of poor soil health?, accessed August 4, 2025,

Soil Compaction: An inevitable part of modern agriculture or a symptom of poor soil health?, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Advantages And Disadvantages Of No Till Farming, Planting, accessed July 27, 2025

Preview of Soil Penetration Resistance as a Soil Health Indicator - SDSU Extension - South Dakota State University, accessed August 4, 2025,

Soil Penetration Resistance as a Soil Health Indicator - SDSU Extension - South Dakota State University, accessed August 4, 2025,

Methodology Source Government

Soil compaction and strength; measurement methods and influences on perennial grass growth.

Preview of Soil resistance to penetration under the dynamic and predictive perspective of restriction to crop yield - IUSS, accessed August 4, 2025,

Soil resistance to penetration under the dynamic and predictive perspective of restriction to crop yield - IUSS, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil resistance to penetration under the dynamic and predictive perspective of restriction to crop yield - IUSS, accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of Soil strength as measured by a cone penetrometer for A a deep loamy... - ResearchGate, accessed August 4, 2025,

Soil strength as measured by a cone penetrometer for A a deep loamy... - ResearchGate, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support

Soil strength as measured by a cone penetrometer for A a deep loamy... - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,

Preview of Soil structure | Space for life - Espace pour la vie, accessed August 4, 2025,

Soil structure | Space for life - Espace pour la vie, accessed August 4, 2025,

Irrelevant

Soil structure | Space for life - Espace pour la vie, accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of Soil Structure and Compaction Solutions - PhycoTerra, accessed August 4, 2025,

Soil Structure and Compaction Solutions - PhycoTerra, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Structure and Compaction Solutions - PhycoTerra, accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of Soil Structure Decline - Tas | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed August 4, 2025,

Soil Structure Decline - Tas | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Structure Decline - Tas | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au

Preview of The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed August 4, 2025,

The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative Agriculture Program restoring soil pH case study ..., accessed August 28, 2025

Preview of To Till, or Not to Till, and WHY (soil forum at permies), accessed August 4, 2025,

To Till, or Not to Till, and WHY (soil forum at permies), accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

To Till, or Not to Till, and WHY (soil forum at permies), accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of What is Regenerative Agriculture? - Soils For Life, accessed August 4, 2025,

What is Regenerative Agriculture? - Soils For Life, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Why soils are so important for regenerative agriculture - Soils For Life, accessed July 22, 2025

Preview of Young Seeds - An Australian cropping case study - Soils For Life, accessed August 4, 2025,

Young Seeds - An Australian cropping case study - Soils For Life, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support

Young Seeds - An Australian cropping case study - Soils For Life, accessed August 4, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 31 May 2026

Notes

Crucially, this value is valid only when measured at or near soil field capacity, as resistance increases dramatically in dry soils. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-AGR-SSC family.