Soil Nitrogen

AUS-TGP-LVG-SON General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 1500 to 3000 mg/kg

Optimal Range: 1500 to 3000

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

The Optimal Range for ecosystem health in this context is proposed as 1500 mg/kg to 3000 mg/kg.

Metric Definition:

Total Soil Nitrogen (TSN) in the topsoil (0-10 cm)

Benchmark Definition:

This optimal range supports a healthy, diverse, and resilient native perennial pasture compatible with sustainable livestock grazing in temperate grassy woodlands.

Justification:

This range accommodates the natural variability of healthy reference sites and allows for positive soil-building effects of regenerative management.

Sources (1)

Preview of Determining reference conditions for management and restoration of temperate grassy woodlands: Relationships among trees, topsoils and understorey flora in little-grazed remnants - the UWA Profiles and Research Repository, accessed August 5, 2025,

Determining reference conditions for management and restoration of temperate grassy woodlands: Relationships among trees, topsoils and understorey flora in little-grazed remnants - the UWA Profiles and Research Repository, accessed August 5, 2025, Journal

Determining reference conditions for management and restoration of temperate grassy woodlands: Relationships among trees, topsoils and understorey flora in little-grazed remnants - the UWA Profiles and Research Repository, accessed August 9, 2025

Supporting Sources (37)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) A framework to predict the effects of livestock grazing and grazing exclusion on conservation values in natural ecosystems in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

(PDF) A framework to predict the effects of livestock grazing and grazing exclusion on conservation values in natural ecosystems in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

Effect of free-ranging cattle on mammalian diversity: an Austral Yungas case study | Oryx

Preview of (PDF) Determining reference conditions for management and ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

(PDF) Determining reference conditions for management and ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence

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

Preview of (PDF) Restoring ecological function in temperate grassy woodlands - manipulating soil nutrients, annual exotics and native perennial grasses through carbon supplements and spring burns - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

(PDF) Restoring ecological function in temperate grassy woodlands - manipulating soil nutrients, annual exotics and native perennial grasses through carbon supplements and spring burns - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

Stormwater Management in Western Washington, accessed August 11, 2025

Preview of Celebrating the Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia's half-birthday ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Celebrating the Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia's half-birthday ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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

Preview of Chapter 9 AUSTRALIAN GRASSLANDS - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, accessed August 5, 2025,

Chapter 9 AUSTRALIAN GRASSLANDS - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Karst and agriculture in Australia - Digital Commons @ USF, accessed July 26, 2025,

Preview of Competition for Nitrogen between Australian Native Grasses and the Introduced Weed Nassella trichotoma - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed August 5, 2025,

Competition for Nitrogen between Australian Native Grasses and the Introduced Weed Nassella trichotoma - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Competition for Nitrogen between Australian Native Grasses and the Introduced Weed Nassella trichotoma - PMC - PubMed Central

Preview of Critical review of the impacts of grazing intensity on soil organic carbon storage and other soil quality indicators in extensively managed grasslands - PubMed Central, accessed August 5, 2025,

Critical review of the impacts of grazing intensity on soil organic carbon storage and other soil quality indicators in extensively managed grasslands - PubMed Central, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Biodiversity Conservation Trust Livestock grazing guidelines, accessed August 11, 2025

Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

Ludwig, J.A., Bastin, G.N., Chewings, V.H., Eager, R.W., and Liedloff, A.C. (2005). Clearing savannas for use as rangelands in Queensland: Altered landscapes and water-erosion processes. Rangeland Journal, 27(2), 135-149.

Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from, accessed August 5, 2025,

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

The effect of climate change on pastoralism in the Australian arid and semi-arid rangelands - Nuffield Farming Scholarships, accessed July 29, 2025,

Preview of Document - Department for Infrastructure and Transport, accessed August 5, 2025,

Document - Department for Infrastructure and Transport, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Irrelevant

Coordination of photosynthetic traits across soil and climate gradients - PubMed Central, accessed July 28, 2025,

Preview of FAQs | Native Seeds, accessed August 5, 2025,

FAQs | Native Seeds, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

FAQs | Native Seeds

Preview of Grassed up - Introduction - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed August 5, 2025,

Grassed up - Introduction - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Irrelevant

Why phosphorus is important - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of GRASSLANDS & GRASSY WOODLANDS - Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, accessed August 5, 2025,

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

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate ..., accessed August 11, 2025

Preview of Grassy woodlands | Landscape Australia, accessed August 5, 2025,

Grassy woodlands | Landscape Australia, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Grassy woodlands | Landscape Australia, accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers, accessed August 5, 2025,

How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem ... - Frontiers

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,

Preview of Identifying ecological thresholds for optimal ecosystem management - INRAE, accessed August 5, 2025,

Identifying ecological thresholds for optimal ecosystem management - INRAE, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Pasture cropping: a new approach to integrate crop and livestock farming systems

Preview of Improving native pastures - FutureBeef, accessed August 5, 2025,

Improving native pastures - FutureBeef, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Improving native pastures - FutureBeef, accessed July 23, 2025,

Preview of Increasing and declining native species in urban remnant grasslands respond differently to nitrogen addition and disturbance | Annals of Botany | Oxford Academic, accessed August 5, 2025,

Increasing and declining native species in urban remnant grasslands respond differently to nitrogen addition and disturbance | Annals of Botany | Oxford Academic, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

Increasing and declining native species in urban remnant grasslands respond differently to nitrogen addition and disturbance | Annals of Botany | Oxford Academic

Preview of Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW ...

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

Preview of Natural Temperate Grassland - ACT Government, accessed August 5, 2025,

Natural Temperate Grassland - ACT Government, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Public nomination for Schedule 1 of the ESP Act, accessed May 19, 2025

Preview of Nitrogen deficiency-Improved Pasture | Yara Australia, accessed August 5, 2025,

Nitrogen deficiency-Improved Pasture | Yara Australia, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Irrelevant

Nitrogen deficiency-Improved Pasture | Yara Australia

Preview of NVIS Fact sheet MVG 5 – Eucalypt woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,

NVIS Fact sheet MVG 5 – Eucalypt woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia, accessed August 12, 2025,

Preview of Phosphorus fertiliser management for pastures based on native grasses in south-eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Phosphorus fertiliser management for pastures based on native grasses in south-eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Phosphorus nutrition of phosphorus-sensitive Australian native ..., accessed May 15, 2025,

Preview of Regenerative Grazing: 3 Different Approaches - Shorthandstories.com, accessed August 5, 2025,

Regenerative Grazing: 3 Different Approaches - Shorthandstories.com, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative Grazing: 3 Different Approaches - Shorthandstories.com

Preview of Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review, accessed August 5, 2025,

Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review

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,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Government

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

Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Nitrogen (3" resolution) - Release 2 | Datasets | data.gov.au, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Nitrogen (3" resolution) - Release 2 | Datasets | data.gov.au, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Nitrogen (3" resolution) - Release 2 | Datasets | data.gov.au, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of The Abundance of Microbial Functional Genes in Grassy Woodlands ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

The Abundance of Microbial Functional Genes in Grassy Woodlands ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia, accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of The effect of grazing management and legumes on soil organic carbon stocks in pastoral systems relevant to the Australian Carbon Credit Unit Scheme: a critical review - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

The effect of grazing management and legumes on soil organic carbon stocks in pastoral systems relevant to the Australian Carbon Credit Unit Scheme: a critical review - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The effect of grazing management and legumes on soil organic carbon stocks in pastoral systems relevant to the Australian Carbon - CSIRO Publishing

Preview of The phosphorus and nitrogen requirements of temperate pasture species and their influence on grassland botanical composition - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

The phosphorus and nitrogen requirements of temperate pasture species and their influence on grassland botanical composition - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Crop and Pasture Science - CSIRO PUBLISHING

Preview of The phosphorus and nitrogen requirements of temperate pasture species and their influence on grassland botanical composition - The Australian National University, accessed August 5, 2025,

The phosphorus and nitrogen requirements of temperate pasture species and their influence on grassland botanical composition - The Australian National University, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

The phosphorus and nitrogen requirements of temperate pasture species and their influence on grassland botanical composition - The Australian National University

Preview of Thresholds of functional trait diversity driven by land use ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Thresholds of functional trait diversity driven by land use ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence

Thresholds of functional trait diversity driven by land use ...

Preview of What are the optimum nutrient targets for pastures? - Soil Health Knowledgebase, accessed August 5, 2025,

What are the optimum nutrient targets for pastures? - Soil Health Knowledgebase, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Scanlan, C. A., et al. (2013). Soil Quality: 10 Plant Nutrition. CCMA Soil Health Knowledge Base.

Preview of Woodlands - DCCEEW

Woodlands - DCCEEW

Contextual Support

Woodlands - DCCEEW

Preview of Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,

Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed May 19, 2025

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 15 Mar 2026

Notes

Avoids the functional limitations of severe nutrient deficiency and prevents biodiversity loss associated with nutrient enrichment.

Related Benchmarks

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