Soil Nitrogen

AUS-TMI-LVG-SON General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 500 to 1500 mg/kg
Thresholds: Lower: 500, Upper: 1500
Optimal Range: 500 to 1500
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

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 MaximumOnly Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

This range is proposed as the Lower Critical Threshold Zone for tropical pastures.

Metric Definition:

Lower critical threshold of Total Soil Nitrogen below which ecosystem health and productivity are significantly compromised.

Benchmark Definition:

The concentration of Total Soil Nitrogen below which the ecosystem's health and productivity are significantly compromised.

Justification:

At this level, the soil's capacity to supply nitrogen to plants becomes a primary limiting factor, triggering the cascade of degradation known as 'nitrogen rundown'.

Sources (1)

Preview of Soil quality and health in pasture systems - Holbrook Landcare Network
Soil quality and health in pasture systems - Holbrook Landcare Network Journal

Soil quality and health in pasture systems - Holbrook Landcare ...

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Supporting Sources (28)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review - ResearchGate
(PDF) Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of (PDF) Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - ResearchGate
(PDF) Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - ResearchGate
Methodology Source

SLGA: Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia (Soil Attributes) | Earth Engine Data Catalog, accessed July 26, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Celebrating the Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia's half-birthday! - TERN Australia
Celebrating the Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia's half-birthday! - TERN Australia
Contextual Support Methodology Source Government

Celebrating the Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia's half-birthday! - TERN Australia

View Source
Preview of Climate Change & Invasive Species: A Review of Interactions November 2006 Workshop Report - DCCEEW
Climate Change & Invasive Species: A Review of Interactions November 2006 Workshop Report - DCCEEW
Contextual Support Journal

Climate Change & Invasive Species: A Review of Interactions November 2006 Workshop Report - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of Effect of competition from a C4 grass on the phosphorus response of a subtropical legume - BioOne Complete
Effect of competition from a C4 grass on the phosphorus response of a subtropical legume - BioOne Complete
Contextual Support Journal

Effect of competition from a C4 grass on the phosphorus response of a subtropical legume - BioOne Complete

View Source
Preview of Environmental Effects of Conservation Practices on Grazing Lands - USDA ARS
Environmental Effects of Conservation Practices on Grazing Lands - USDA ARS
Contextual Support Journal

Environmental Effects of Conservation Practices on Grazing Lands - USDA ARS, accessed on May 31, 2025

View Source
Preview of Guidelines for the application of IUCN Red List of Ecosystems Categories and Criteria
Guidelines for the application of IUCN Red List of Ecosystems Categories and Criteria
Contextual Support Journal

Guidelines for the application of IUCN Red List of Ecosystems Categories and Criteria

View Source
Preview of Hydrology and runoff water quality from three improved pastures compared with virgin brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) woodland over 8 years in semiarid Australia - CSIRO Publishing
Hydrology and runoff water quality from three improved pastures compared with virgin brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) woodland over 8 years in semiarid Australia - CSIRO Publishing
Contextual Support Journal

Hydrology and runoff water quality from three improved pastures compared with virgin brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) woodland over 8 years in semiarid Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 18, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Leucaena The productive and sustainable forage legume | MLA
Leucaena The productive and sustainable forage legume | MLA
Contextual Support Journal

Leucaena The productive and sustainable forage legume | MLA

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Preview of Managing cattle grazing intensity: effects on soil organic matter and soil nitrogen, accessed August 5, 2025,
Managing cattle grazing intensity: effects on soil organic matter and soil nitrogen, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Managing cattle grazing intensity: effects on soil organic matter and soil nitrogen

View Source
Preview of Managing cattle grazing intensity: effects on soil organic matter and'soil'nitrogen
Managing cattle grazing intensity: effects on soil organic matter and'soil'nitrogen
Contextual Support Journal

Managing cattle grazing intensity: effects on soil organic matter and'soil'nitrogen

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Preview of Nitrogen the key to fighting big losses from 'rundown' in sown pastures - FutureBeef
Nitrogen the key to fighting big losses from 'rundown' in sown pastures - FutureBeef
Contextual Support Journal

Nitrogen the key to fighting big losses from 'rundown' in sown pastures - FutureBeef

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Preview of North Australia Program - MLA
North Australia Program - MLA
Contextual Support Journal

Phosphorus: a finite resource essential for life, critical for agriculture and food security, accessed July 28, 2025,

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Preview of Northern Australia beef situation analysis - Cooperative Research ...
Northern Australia beef situation analysis - Cooperative Research ...
Contextual Support Journal

Northern Australia beef situation analysis - Cooperative Research ...

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Preview of Northern Territory Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development Primary Industry Group Technical Annual Report 2001
Northern Territory Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development Primary Industry Group Technical Annual Report 2001
Contextual Support Journal

Northern Territory Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development Primary Industry Group Technical Annual Report 2001

View Source
Preview of Regrowth performance of tropical forage legumes on infertile soils - ResearchGate
Regrowth performance of tropical forage legumes on infertile soils - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

Regrowth performance of tropical forage legumes on infertile soils - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Regrowth performance of tropical forage legumes on infertile soils - ResearchOnline@JCU
Regrowth performance of tropical forage legumes on infertile soils - ResearchOnline@JCU
Contextual Support Journal

Regrowth performance of tropical forage legumes on infertile soils - ResearchOnline@JCU

View Source
Preview of SLGA: Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia (Soil Attributes) | Earth Engine Data Catalog, accessed July 30, 2025,
SLGA: Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia (Soil Attributes) | Earth Engine Data Catalog, accessed July 30, 2025,
Methodology Source

Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Cation Exchange Capacity (3" resolution) - Release 1 - Research Data Australia

View Source
Preview of SMART ROTATIONS: FARMING SYSTEMS FOR THE FUTURE - Charles Sturt University
SMART ROTATIONS: FARMING SYSTEMS FOR THE FUTURE - Charles Sturt University
Contextual Support Journal

SMART ROTATIONS: FARMING SYSTEMS FOR THE FUTURE - Charles Sturt University

View Source
Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Nitrogen (3" resolution) - Release 2 - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed August 5, 2025,
Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Nitrogen (3" resolution) - Release 2 - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed August 5, 2025,
Methodology Source Government

Geology | Norfolk Island National Park | Parks Australia, accessed August 2, 2025

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Preview of Soil Attribute Product Details - Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia
Soil Attribute Product Details - Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia
Methodology Source Government

Soil Attribute Product Details - Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia

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Preview of Soil Fertility (Part III) - Properties and Management of Soils in the ...
Soil Fertility (Part III) - Properties and Management of Soils in the ...
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Fertility (Part III) - Properties and Management of Soils in the ...

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Preview of Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen under Leucaena leucocephala pastures in Queensland - CSIRO Publishing
Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen under Leucaena leucocephala pastures in Queensland - CSIRO Publishing
Direct Evidence Journal

Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen under Leucaena leucocephala pastures in Queensland - CSIRO Publishing

View Source
Preview of Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen under Leucaena leucocephala pastures in Queensland - ResearchGate
Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen under Leucaena leucocephala pastures in Queensland - ResearchGate
Direct Evidence Journal

Comparison of no-tillage and conventional tillage in the development of sustainable farming systems in the semi-arid tropics - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025,

View Source
Preview of SUPPLEMENT - GRDC Ground Cover
SUPPLEMENT - GRDC Ground Cover
Contextual Support Journal

SUPPLEMENT - GRDC Ground Cover

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Preview of Survey of long-term productivity and nutritional status of Leucaena leucocephala-grass pastures in subtropical Queensland | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Survey of long-term productivity and nutritional status of Leucaena leucocephala-grass pastures in subtropical Queensland | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

Survey of long-term productivity and nutritional status of Leucaena leucocephala-grass pastures in subtropical Queensland | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of The nitrogen book: Principles of soil nitrogen fertility management in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales farming
The nitrogen book: Principles of soil nitrogen fertility management in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales farming
Contextual Support Journal

Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Tropical Pastures - Bob McCown, Agricultural Systems Scientist
Tropical Pastures - Bob McCown, Agricultural Systems Scientist
Contextual Support Journal

Tropical Pastures - Bob McCown, Agricultural Systems Scientist

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Superseded
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 15 Mar 2026
  • Effective To 15 Mar 2026

Notes

Systems with TSN values below 1500 mg/kg are considered to be in a state of nitrogen deficiency, likely exhibiting signs of rundown and requiring significant intervention.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMI-LVG-SON family.

— mg/kg Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v2
5000 mg/kg Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
MaximumOnly Active v1
— mg/kg Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
— mg/kg Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Superseded v1