Soil Potassium
Benchmark Value
Scoring Curve
This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.
Evidence & Context
The final benchmark and its functional context are summarized in the table below.
Available soil potassium (K) measured by the Colwell K soil test, representing the ecologically optimal range for high-integrity conservation areas.
This benchmark defines the ecologically optimal range of soil potassium for high-integrity conservation areas in temperate grassy woodlands and plains with sandy loam soils, adapted from agronomic ideal targets to support native biodiversity without promoting invasive species.
It reflects values sufficient for native biodiversity without promoting invasive species.
Sources (1)
Understanding soil tests for pastures
View SourceSupporting Sources (32)
Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.
(PDF) Impacts of tree invasion on floristic composition of subtropical grasslands on the Bunya Mountains, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed May 19, 2025
View SourceConservation Advice for Lowland Grassy Woodland in the South East Corner Bioregion, accessed August 6, 2025
View SourceRoot Structure and Functioning for Efficient Acquisition of Phosphorus: Matching Morphological and Physiological Traits
View SourceLiving with high potassium: Balance between nutrient acquisition and K-induced salt stress signaling
View SourceEcology of Australia: the effects of nutrient-poor soils and intense fires - PubMed
View SourceEnvironment - Restore Trees NSW, accessed August 11, 2025,
View SourceEucalyptus recruitment in degraded woodlands: no benefit from elevated soil fertility, accessed August 11, 2025,
View Sourcewww.greeningaustralia.org.au, accessed May 17, 2025,
View SourceGrassy woodlands | Landscape Australia, accessed August 4, 2025,
View SourceIs there a close association between 'soils' and 'vegetation'? A case study from central western New South Wales, accessed August 4, 2025,
View SourceIdentification Guidelines for Endangered Ecological Communities: White box - yellow box - Blakely's red gum woodland - NSW Environment Protection Authority, accessed August 11, 2025,
View Source(PDF) Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states - ResearchGate, accessed August 4, 2025,
View SourceLong-term rundown of plant-available potassium in Western Australia requires a re-evaluation of potassium management for grain p - BioOne Complete, accessed August 11, 2025,
View SourceMultiple adaptive responses of Australian native perennial legumes with pasture potential to grow in phosphorus- and moisture-limited environments, accessed July 16, 2025,
View SourceNational Soil Action Plan - DAFF, accessed August 11, 2025,
View SourceThe Impact of Tree Species on Microbial Community Structure and Soil Function on Forest Plantations in the Central Hardwoods Reg, accessed August 10, 2025,
View SourceUnderstanding soil pH, accessed August 28, 2025,
View SourceOvercoming restoration thresholds and increasing revegetation success for a range of canopy species in a degraded urban Mediterranean-type woodland ecosystem - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed August 11, 2025,
View SourcePatterns in potassium dynamics in forest ecosystems - PubMed, accessed July 30, 2025
View SourceSoil fertility in grazing systems: Manage potassium to manage nitrogen - Crops and Soils, accessed July 28, 2025,
View SourcePotassium Control of Plant Functions: Ecological and Agricultural Implications - MDPI
View SourcePotassium for high rainfall pastures - DPIRD's Digital library
View SourceWhat are the optimum nutrient targets for pastures? - Soil Health Knowledgebase, accessed July 28, 2025,
View SourceProtecting native grasses – ANU Sustainable Farms, accessed August 11, 2025,
View SourceShould I Fertilise Australian Native Plants? - Natural Growth Institute, accessed August 11, 2025,
View SourceSoil biodiversity | Land and soil - Environment and Heritage - NSW Government, accessed August 11, 2025,
View SourceUnderstanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ..., accessed July 17, 2025,
View SourceV*. Clearing and burning brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) in Queensland, Australia, temporarily increases surface soil fertility prior to nutrient decline under cropping or grazing - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 13, 2025
View Source(PDF) Soil and vegetation response to thinning White Cypress Pine ..., accessed July 19, 2025,
View SourceV*. Clearing and burning brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) in Queensland, Australia, temporarily increases surface soil fertility prior to nutrient decline under cropping or grazing - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 18, 2025,
View SourceWhite Box Yellow Box Blakely's Red Gum Woodland - Determination to make a minor amendment to Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 11, 2025,
View SourceWoodlands - DCCEEW, accessed May 19, 2025
View Source