Soil Structure & Compaction

AUS-TGP-FOR-SSC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

2500 kPa
Direction: Lower 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 13 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 12 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

A conservative but evidence-based upper critical threshold of 2500 kPa (2.5 MPa), measured at or near field capacity, is proposed as the limit beyond which soil condition is considered severely degraded and ecologically unsustainable for this system.

Metric Definition:

Soil penetration resistance at or near field capacity indicating the upper critical threshold beyond which root growth is severely restricted.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the minimum soil penetration resistance threshold indicating severe soil compaction and ecological unsustainability in temperate grassy woodlands and plains under production forestry.

Justification:

Based on international research and precautionary approach for temperate woodlands production forestry.

Sources (2)

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The Influence of Compaction and Soil Strength on the Establishment of Four Australian Landscape Trees | Arboriculture & Urban Forestry Journal

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Supporting Sources (38)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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Contextual Support

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

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A comparison of rubber-tyred and steel-tracked skidders on forest soil physical properties, accessed August 9, 2025,
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A comparison of rubber-tyred and steel-tracked skidders on forest soil physical properties, accessed August 9, 2025,

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A review on effective soil health bio-indicators for ecosystem restoration and sustainability, accessed May 13, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Tests Electrical Conductivity - Soil Quality

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Bulk Density - Measurement | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed August 9, 2025,
Methodology Source Government

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Comparison of the penetration of primary and lateral roots of pea and different tree seedlings growing in hard soils - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 9, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Comparison of the penetration of primary and lateral roots of pea and different tree seedlings growing in hard soils - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 9, 2025,

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Effects of Stock Grazing on Biodiversity Values in ... - ACT Government, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support GreyLiterature

TERN Ecosystem Surveillance & Environmental Monitoring Systems

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GRASSLANDS & GRASSY WOODLANDS - Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support Journal

Guidelines for Plantation forestry in south australia 2009 - PIRSA, accessed August 9, 2025,

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Preview of Harvest operations and soil sustainability: A review - USDA Forest Service, accessed August 10, 2025,
Harvest operations and soil sustainability: A review - USDA Forest Service, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support

Harvest operations and soil sustainability: A review - USDA Forest Service

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Health of remnant woodlands in fragments under distinct grazing regimes - ResearchGate, accessed August 9, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Health of remnant woodlands in fragments under distinct grazing regimes - ResearchGate, accessed August 9, 2025,

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How do fire regimes affect ecosystem structure, function and diversity in grasslands and grassy woodlands of southern Australia?, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support

Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021

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Preview of Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,
Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states - ResearchGate, accessed August 4, 2025,

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Preview of Impacts of Logging-Associated Compaction on Forest Soils: A Meta-Analysis - Frontiers, accessed July 30, 2025,
Impacts of Logging-Associated Compaction on Forest Soils: A Meta-Analysis - Frontiers, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Impacts of Logging-Associated Compaction on Forest Soils: A Meta-Analysis - Frontiers

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Preview of Land-use effects on soil properties on the north-western slopes of New South Wales: Implications for soil condition assessment - ResearchGate, accessed August 9, 2025,
Land-use effects on soil properties on the north-western slopes of New South Wales: Implications for soil condition assessment - ResearchGate, accessed August 9, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Land-use effects on soil properties on the north-western slopes of New South Wales: Implications for soil condition assessment - ResearchGate, accessed August 9, 2025,

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Preview of Little left to lose: deforestation and forest degradation in Australia since European colonization | Journal of Plant Ecology | Oxford Academic, accessed July 12, 2025,
Little left to lose: deforestation and forest degradation in Australia since European colonization | Journal of Plant Ecology | Oxford Academic, accessed July 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Little left to lose: deforestation and forest degradation in Australia since European colonization | Journal of Plant Ecology | Oxford Academic, accessed July 12, 2025,

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Preview of Long-term impacts of wildfire and logging on forest soils - Charles ..., accessed August 9, 2025,
Long-term impacts of wildfire and logging on forest soils - Charles ..., accessed August 9, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Long-term impacts of wildfire and logging on forest soils - Charles ..., accessed August 9, 2025,

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Preview of Minimizing Soil Compaction in Pacific Northwest Forests, accessed August 9, 2025,
Minimizing Soil Compaction in Pacific Northwest Forests, accessed August 9, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Minimizing Soil Compaction in Pacific Northwest Forests, accessed August 9, 2025,

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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

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Preview of Peppermint Box (Eucalyptus odorata) Grassy Woodland of South Australia, accessed August 9, 2025,
Peppermint Box (Eucalyptus odorata) Grassy Woodland of South Australia, accessed August 9, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Northern Mount Lofty Ranges and Southern Flinders Ranges soil descriptions.

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Preview of Preventing Soil Compaction and Rutting in the Boreal ... - Gov.bc.ca, accessed August 9, 2025,
Preventing Soil Compaction and Rutting in the Boreal ... - Gov.bc.ca, accessed August 9, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Preventing Soil Compaction and Rutting in the Boreal ... - Gov.bc.ca, accessed August 9, 2025,

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Preview of Resistance and resilience of the forest soil microbiome to logging-associated compaction, accessed July 30, 2025,
Resistance and resilience of the forest soil microbiome to logging-associated compaction, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Use Our: Soil Penetrometer - onondaga county soil & water conservation district, accessed August 2, 2025

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Preview of Review Paper AS THE SOIL RESISTANCE TO PENETRATION AFFECTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURAL CROPS?, accessed August 9, 2025,
Review Paper AS THE SOIL RESISTANCE TO PENETRATION AFFECTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURAL CROPS?, accessed August 9, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Review Paper AS THE SOIL RESISTANCE TO PENETRATION AFFECTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURAL CROPS?, accessed August 9, 2025,

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Preview of Seasonal variation in penetration resistance and shear strength of three rainforest soils from northeastern Queensland - ResearchGate, accessed August 9, 2025,
Seasonal variation in penetration resistance and shear strength of three rainforest soils from northeastern Queensland - ResearchGate, accessed August 9, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Seasonal variation in penetration resistance and shear strength of three rainforest soils from northeastern Queensland - ResearchGate, accessed August 9, 2025,

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Preview of Significant and persistent impact of timber harvesting on soil ..., accessed August 9, 2025,
Significant and persistent impact of timber harvesting on soil ..., accessed August 9, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil physical and hydrological properties following logging and ...

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Preview of Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 3, 2025,
Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support

The effects of clipping frequency and nitrogen fertilisation on greenhouse gas emissions and net ecosystem exchange in an Australian temperate grassland - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal

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Preview of Soil compaction - practical considerations - Forest Research, accessed July 30, 2025,
Soil compaction - practical considerations - Forest Research, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Soil on the Edge: Australia's Soil Health Crisis - Environmental Clean Technologies, accessed August 2, 2025

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

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Preview of Soil Compaction and Productivity Evolution in a Harvested and Grazed Mediterranean Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Forest - MDPI, accessed August 9, 2025,
Soil Compaction and Productivity Evolution in a Harvested and Grazed Mediterranean Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Forest - MDPI, accessed August 9, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Compaction and Productivity Evolution in a Harvested and Grazed Mediterranean Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Forest - MDPI

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Preview of Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment, accessed August 10, 2025,
Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 28, 2025,

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Preview of Soil Penetration Resistance Influenced by Eucalypt Straw Management under Mechanized Harvesting - MDPI, accessed August 9, 2025,
Soil Penetration Resistance Influenced by Eucalypt Straw Management under Mechanized Harvesting - MDPI, accessed August 9, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Penetration Resistance Influenced by Eucalypt Straw Management under Mechanized Harvesting - MDPI, accessed August 9, 2025,

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Preview of Soil Penetration Resistance Influenced by Eucalypt Straw Management under Mechanized Harvesting - ResearchGate, accessed August 9, 2025,
Soil Penetration Resistance Influenced by Eucalypt Straw Management under Mechanized Harvesting - ResearchGate, accessed August 9, 2025,
Contextual Support

Soil Penetration Resistance Influenced by Eucalypt Straw Management under Mechanized Harvesting - ResearchGate, accessed August 9, 2025,

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Soil Physical Properties (Chapter 6) - Properties and Management of Soils in the Tropics, accessed August 9, 2025,
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Preview of TERN - Australia's Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, accessed July 30, 2025,
TERN - Australia's Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, accessed July 30, 2025,
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Preview of The effect of harvesting operations, slash management and fertilisation on the growth of a Eucalyptus clonal hybrid on a sandy soil in Zululand, South Africa | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 9, 2025,
The effect of harvesting operations, slash management and fertilisation on the growth of a Eucalyptus clonal hybrid on a sandy soil in Zululand, South Africa | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 9, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

The effect of harvesting operations, slash management and fertilisation on the growth of a Eucalyptus clonal hybrid on a sandy soil in Zululand, South Africa | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 9, 2025,

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Preview of Uncovering root compaction response mechanisms: new insights and opportunities | Journal of Experimental Botany | Oxford Academic, accessed August 9, 2025,
Uncovering root compaction response mechanisms: new insights and opportunities | Journal of Experimental Botany | Oxford Academic, accessed August 9, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Uncovering root compaction response mechanisms: new insights and opportunities | Journal of Experimental Botany | Oxford Academic, accessed August 9, 2025,

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

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

Notes

This threshold should not be exceeded to ensure long-term site productivity and ecological integrity.

Related Benchmarks

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

1500 kPa Moderate
Production Forestry · Conservation Target
MaximumOnly Active v1