Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TMS-AGR-SEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Thresholds: Lower: 0.15, Upper: —

Direction: Higher 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 24 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 23 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

An indicative Lower Critical Threshold is proposed as ECe < 0.15 dS/m.

Metric Definition:

Lower critical threshold for soil EC below which essential soil functions may be compromised

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the soil electrical conductivity level below which essential soil functions, such as nutrient cycling and microbial activity, may be significantly compromised in Australian Tropical Monsoonal Savannas under agricultural crop production.

Justification:

Reflects the concern that extremely low EC could signify a critical lack of soluble nutrient ions affecting plant growth and microbial activity.

Sources (1)

Preview of Fao, S. et al. (2024). Comparative Study of Soil Fertility in Savannas, Fallows, and Cultivated Plots in the Sudanian Zone of Burkina Faso: Implications for Sustainable Land Management. Environment and Natural Resources Research.

Fao, S. et al. (2024). Comparative Study of Soil Fertility in Savannas, Fallows, and Cultivated Plots in the Sudanian Zone of Burkina Faso: Implications for Sustainable Land Management. Environment and Natural Resources Research. Government

CSIRO. Soil mapping and land suitability in northern Australia.

View Source

Supporting Sources (16)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Agada, M.O. et al. (2020). Effect of Tillage Methods and Soil Amendments on Soil Properties and Yield of Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus L.) in Makurdi Guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria. Academic Journal of Current Research.

Agada, M.O. et al. (2020). Effect of Tillage Methods and Soil Amendments on Soil Properties and Yield of Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus L.) in Makurdi Guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria. Academic Journal of Current Research.

Direct Evidence Journal

View Source

Agriculture Victoria. Soil Salinity Class Ranges.

Contextual Support Government

Agriculture Victoria. Soil Salinity Class Ranges.

View Source

Preview of Cowie, B. et al. (2020). Land use change from native brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) forest to cropping or grazing pasture affects soil fertility dynamics over 32 years in the Brigalow Catchment Study. Soil Research. (Citing Cowie et al. 2007 data).

Cowie, B. et al. (2020). Land use change from native brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) forest to cropping or grazing pasture affects soil fertility dynamics over 32 years in the Brigalow Catchment Study. Soil Research. (Citing Cowie et al. 2007 data).

Contextual Support Journal

View Source

Preview of Dalal, R.C. et al. (2011). Should we manage soil organic carbon in Vertosols in the northern grains region of Australia? Vadose Zone Journal. (Also references a study on TEK-based organic input systems).

Dalal, R.C. et al. (2011). Should we manage soil organic carbon in Vertosols in the northern grains region of Australia? Vadose Zone Journal. (Also references a study on TEK-based organic input systems).

Contextual Support Journal

View Source

Geoderma 123(s 3–4):373–375 (Implicitly, through discussion of tropical soil properties).

Contextual Support

Geoderma 123(s 3–4):373–375 (Implicitly, through discussion of tropical soil properties).

View Source

Preview of Liu, X. et al. (2023). Fire regime has a greater impact on soil microbial abundance than on soil organic carbon in a tropical savanna. Wildlife Research.

Liu, X. et al. (2023). Fire regime has a greater impact on soil microbial abundance than on soil organic carbon in a tropical savanna. Wildlife Research.

Contextual Support

Fire regime impacts on soil microbes, soil organic carbon and ground cover in an Australian tropical savanna - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 11, 2025,

View Source

Preview of Loneragan, N. (2013). Preliminary soil and groundwater assessment of the Mantinea Development area, East Kimberley. Resource Management Technical Report 389. Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.

Loneragan, N. (2013). Preliminary soil and groundwater assessment of the Mantinea Development area, East Kimberley. Resource Management Technical Report 389. Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.

Contextual Support

View Source

NSW Department of Primary Industries. (2014). Salinity tolerance of irrigated crops.

Contextual Support Journal

NSW Department of Primary Industries. (2014). Salinity tolerance of irrigated crops.

View Source

Preview of Plantation tree growth responses to P, N, K and minor and trace elements on low fertility savanna soils - ResearchGate, accessed May 16, 2025,

Plantation tree growth responses to P, N, K and minor and trace elements on low fertility savanna soils - ResearchGate, accessed May 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Agnote - Northern Territory Government

View Source

Regenerative Agriculture Metrics: Soil chapter, accessed May 12, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

WBCSD. Regenerative Agriculture: Soil Health Metrics.

View Source

Soil management guides - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Managing soils during and after drought in cropping systems - Fact sheet - Soil CRC

View Source

Soil Science Australia. (2025). Multi-species cropping and regenerative farming strategies - NT (Case study).

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Science Australia. (2025). Multi-species cropping and regenerative farming strategies - NT (Case study).

View Source

Stewart et al. (1991) as cited in UKnowledge University of Kentucky. (General constraints of tropical soils).

Contextual Support

Stewart et al. (1991) as cited in UKnowledge University of Kentucky. (General constraints of tropical soils).

Preview of Stewart, C.E. et al. (2024). Comparing the Soil Management Assessment Framework to the Haney Soil Health Test Across Managed Agroecosystems. Agriculture.

Stewart, C.E. et al. (2024). Comparing the Soil Management Assessment Framework to the Haney Soil Health Test Across Managed Agroecosystems. Agriculture.

Contextual Support

Stewart, C.E. et al. (2024). Comparing the Soil Management Assessment Framework to the Haney Soil Health Test Across Managed Agroecosystems. Agriculture.

View Source

TERN. App turns soil data into information on-the-go.

Methodology Source Government

TERN. App turns soil data into information on-the-go.

View Source

TERN. TERN – Australia's Ecosystem Observatory Network, highlights for 2018-2023.

Contextual Support Government

TERN - Australia's Ecosystem Observatory Network

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 15 Mar 2026

Notes

Salinity is not a concern below this threshold, but nutrient depletion is. ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:16 UTC: UpperThreshold 0.15 → (check: MinAboveMax, rationale: Clear UpperThreshold here to move the threshold to LowerThreshold as it is a lower critical threshold.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:16 UTC: UpperThreshold 0.15 → (check: MaxBelowOptimalLow, rationale: Clearing UpperThreshold to null after moving the threshold to LowerThreshold to reflect the correct guard direction.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:16 UTC: LowerThreshold → 0.15 (check: MaxBelowOptimalLow, rationale: The Notes state this is a lower critical threshold (ECe < 0.15 dS/m) indicating degradation below this value. Moving 0.15 from UpperThreshold to LowerThreshold corrects the form to MinimumOnly and resolves the contradiction.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-24 19:54 UTC: UpperThreshold → 0.15 (check: MinAboveMax, rationale: Assign 0.15 as UpperThreshold on benchmark 458 to reflect the lower degradation floor, correcting the form to MinimumOnly.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-24 19:54 UTC: LowerThreshold 0.15 → (check: MinAboveMax, rationale: Clear LowerThreshold on benchmark 458 to allow reassignment of the 0.15 threshold to LowerThreshold on benchmark 460.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-24 19:54 UTC: BenchmarkValue 0.15 → (check: MaxBelowOptimalLow, rationale: The threshold value 0.15 dS/m is stored in LowerThreshold, so BenchmarkValue should be cleared to avoid duplication and confusion. This clarifies that the threshold is a lower limit indicating degradation below 0.15, consistent with the MinimumOnly form.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-24 19:57 UTC: UpperThreshold 0.15 → (check: MinAboveMax, rationale: Clear UpperThreshold on benchmark 458 to avoid duplication and allow the threshold to be correctly represented as a LowerThreshold.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-24 19:57 UTC: LowerThreshold → 0.15 (check: MinAboveMax, rationale: The Notes state that EC below 0.15 dS/m indicates degradation, so this is a lower threshold. Moving 0.15 to LowerThreshold on benchmark 458 correctly represents it as a MinimumOnly threshold.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-24 19:57 UTC: LowerThreshold → 0.15 (check: MaxBelowOptimalLow, rationale: Moving 0.15 to LowerThreshold correctly represents this as a MinimumOnly lower threshold, consistent with the Notes and resolving the contradiction. This will auto-correct the form to MinimumOnly.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-24 19:57 UTC: UpperThreshold 0.15 → (check: MaxBelowOptimalLow, rationale: The Notes state this is a lower critical threshold indicating degradation below 0.15 dS/m, so UpperThreshold should be cleared to remove the incorrect MaximumOnly ceiling.)

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMS-AGR-SEC family.