Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TMS-AGR-SEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

1.5 dS/m

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 1.5

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 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 Upper Detrimental Threshold for ecological health is proposed as ECe > 1.5 dS/m.

Metric Definition:

Upper detrimental threshold for soil EC beyond which ecological health declines

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the soil electrical conductivity level above which negative impacts on ecological health occur in Australian Tropical Monsoonal Savannas under agricultural crop production.

Justification:

Values exceeding this threshold indicate declining environmental health and departure from best available condition.

Sources (1)

Agriculture Victoria. Soil Salinity Class Ranges. Government

Agriculture Victoria. Soil Salinity Class Ranges.

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

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

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.

Contextual Support Government

CSIRO. Soil mapping and land suitability in northern Australia.

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

This threshold is lower than conventional agronomic salinity tolerance levels due to ecological sensitivity. ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:15 UTC: UpperThreshold → 1.5 (check: MinAboveOptimalHigh, rationale: Move the threshold to UpperThreshold to correctly represent the upper detrimental limit, which will auto-correct the form to MaximumOnly, resolving the MinAboveOptimalHigh contradiction.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:16 UTC: LowerThreshold 1.5 → (check: MinAboveOptimalHigh, rationale: The threshold of 1.5 dS/m is an upper limit (above which degradation occurs), so LowerThreshold should be cleared to avoid misclassification.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:16 UTC: UpperThreshold → 0.15 (check: MinAboveMax, rationale: Set UpperThreshold to 0.15 (the old MaximumOnly threshold) to swap threshold values and allow auto-correction of form to MaximumOnly.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:16 UTC: LowerThreshold 1.5 → (check: MinAboveMax, rationale: Moving the 1.5 threshold from LowerThreshold to UpperThreshold on the other benchmark (ID=458) as it is an upper detrimental limit, so this field should be cleared here.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-24 19:53 UTC: LowerThreshold → (check: MinAboveOptimalHigh, rationale: No change needed; LowerThreshold is already null.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-24 19:54 UTC: UpperThreshold 0.15 → 1.5 (check: MinAboveOptimalHigh, rationale: The Notes state that values above 1.5 dS/m cause degradation, indicating this is an upper limit. Moving 1.5 to UpperThreshold correctly represents this as a MaximumOnly threshold and resolves the MinAboveOptimalHigh contradiction.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-24 19:56 UTC: UpperThreshold 1.5 → 1.5 (check: MinAboveOptimalHigh, rationale: Retain 1.5 in UpperThreshold to represent the upper degradation limit. This will auto-correct the form to MaximumOnly, resolving the MinAboveOptimalHigh contradiction.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-24 19:57 UTC: UpperThreshold 1.5 → 1.5 (check: MinAboveOptimalHigh, rationale: UpperThreshold 1.5 correctly represents the upper degradation limit as per Notes and EvidenceStatement. This will auto-correct the form to MaximumOnly, resolving the MinAboveOptimalHigh contradiction.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-24 19:57 UTC: LowerThreshold → (check: MinAboveOptimalHigh, rationale: LowerThreshold is already null and should remain so to avoid duplication.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-24 19:57 UTC: UpperThreshold 1.5 → 1.5 (check: MinAboveMax, rationale: Retain 1.5 as UpperThreshold on benchmark 460 to represent the upper detrimental limit, consistent with Notes and ecological meaning.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-24 19:57 UTC: LowerThreshold → (check: MinAboveOptimalHigh, rationale: No change needed to LowerThreshold; it is already null.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-24 19:57 UTC: LowerThreshold → (check: MinAboveOptimalHigh, rationale: No change needed to LowerThreshold; it is already null.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-24 19:57 UTC: LowerThreshold → (check: MinAboveOptimalHigh, rationale: No change needed to LowerThreshold; it is already null.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-24 20:08 UTC: UpperThreshold 1.5 → 1.5 (check: MinAboveOptimalHigh, rationale: Retain 1.5 in UpperThreshold to represent the upper degradation limit as per Notes and EvidenceStatement. This will auto-correct the form to MaximumOnly, resolving the MinAboveOptimalHigh contradiction.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-24 20:08 UTC: LowerThreshold → (check: MinAboveOptimalHigh, rationale: LowerThreshold is already null and should remain so to avoid duplication.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-24 20:24 UTC: UpperThreshold 1.5 → 1.5 (check: MinAboveOptimalHigh, rationale: Retain 1.5 in UpperThreshold to represent the upper degradation limit as per Notes and EvidenceStatement. This will auto-correct the form to MaximumOnly, resolving the MinAboveOptimalHigh contradiction.)

Related Benchmarks

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