Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TMI-FOR-SEC General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 0.1 to 0.3 dS/m
Thresholds: Lower: 0.05, Upper: 0.4
Optimal Range: 0.1 to 0.3
Direction: Lower 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.

Evidence & Context

The range of 0.10–0.30 dS/m represents a healthy, well-functioning soil system with good nutrient status and biological activity, suitable for sustainable production.

Metric Definition:

Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC) is a fundamental measure of the ability of water to conduct an electrical current.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the healthy soil electrical conductivity range for tropical and subtropical maritime island soils under production forestry, indicating optimal soil function and nutrient status.

Justification:

The benchmark is derived using high-quality data from the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) for the Daintree Rainforest, a protected, high-health, mature tropical ecosystem in a high-rainfall coastal setting.

Sources (1)

Preview of Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation BASE Contextual, Soil Physico-Chemical Data 2013
Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation BASE Contextual, Soil Physico-Chemical Data 2013 Government

Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation BASE Contextual, Soil Physico-Chemical Data 2013

View Source

Supporting Sources (34)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Acacia mangium: An Important Multipurpose Tree For The Tropic Lowlands - Print BK0007-04_Page_001.tif (1 page), accessed July 30, 2025
Acacia mangium: An Important Multipurpose Tree For The Tropic Lowlands - Print BK0007-04_Page_001.tif (1 page), accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Acacia mangium: An Important Multipurpose Tree For The Tropic Lowlands - Print BK0007-04_Page_001.tif (1 page), accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Additional Information: Forestry and mining operations on the Tiwi Islands, accessed July 31, 2025
Additional Information: Forestry and mining operations on the Tiwi Islands, accessed July 31, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Tiwi-led Forestry Project to Boost Estate and Double Exports - Wood Central, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of ASC - VERTOSOLS - Soil Science Australia
ASC - VERTOSOLS - Soil Science Australia
Contextual Support

What are the optimum nutrient targets for pastures? - Soil Health Knowledgebase

View Source
Preview of CSIRO Permanent Rainforest Plots of North Queensland, accessed July 20, 2025,
CSIRO Permanent Rainforest Plots of North Queensland, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

CSIRO Permanent Rainforest Plots of North Queensland

View Source
Preview of Early response of soil properties and function to riparian rainforest restoration - Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group, accessed July 18, 2025,
Early response of soil properties and function to riparian rainforest restoration - Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group, accessed July 18, 2025,
Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Ecology of Nitrogen Fixing, Nitrifying, and Denitrifying ...

View Source
Preview of Factors that affect soil electrical conductivity (EC) based system for smart farming application, accessed May 16, 2025,
Factors that affect soil electrical conductivity (EC) based system for smart farming application, accessed May 16, 2025,
Methodology Source GreyLiterature

How salinity is measured - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Forestry | NT.GOV.AU, accessed August 1, 2025,
Forestry | NT.GOV.AU, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support

Additional Information: Forestry and mining operations on the Tiwi Islands, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of How do you grow a palm? The secret's in the soil. - Botany One, accessed July 25, 2025,
How do you grow a palm? The secret's in the soil. - Botany One, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

How do you grow a palm? The secret's in the soil. - Botany One, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of K'gari - UNESCO World Heritage Centre, accessed August 3, 2025,
K'gari - UNESCO World Heritage Centre, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support

K'gari - UNESCO World Heritage Centre

View Source
Preview of Land clearing in Australia - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025
Land clearing in Australia - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Land clearing in Australia - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025

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Preview of Lord Howe Island - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025,
Lord Howe Island - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Lord Howe Island - Wikipedia

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Preview of Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025,
Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Geology | Norfolk Island National Park | Parks Australia

View Source
Preview of Lord Howe Island Group - UNESCO World Heritage Centre, accessed August 3, 2025,
Lord Howe Island Group - UNESCO World Heritage Centre, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support

Lord Howe Island Group - UNESCO World Heritage Centre

View Source
Preview of Lord Howe Island subtropical forests | EBSCO Research Starters, accessed August 3, 2025,
Lord Howe Island subtropical forests | EBSCO Research Starters, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support

Norfolk Island Plant Communities - Jerry Coleby-Williams

View Source
Preview of Lord Howe Island Subtropical Forests | One Earth, accessed July 30, 2025,
Lord Howe Island Subtropical Forests | One Earth, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Safeguarding Lord Howe Island World Heritage Area - Local Land Services

View Source
Preview of Norfolk Island - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025,
Norfolk Island - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support

Norfolk Island - Wikipedia

View Source
Preview of Norfolk Island acid sulfate soils (ASS) 2024 - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed July 30, 2025
Norfolk Island acid sulfate soils (ASS) 2024 - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Norfolk Island acid sulfate soils (ASS) 2024 - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Norfolk Island Water Resource Assessment - CSIRO, accessed August 4, 2025,
Norfolk Island Water Resource Assessment - CSIRO, accessed August 4, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Common soil types | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Norfolk Island Water Resource Assessment project | Department of ..., accessed August 4, 2025,
Norfolk Island Water Resource Assessment project | Department of ..., accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support

Norfolk Island Water Resource Assessment project | Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

View Source
Preview of On Soil and Speciation - In Defense of Plants, accessed July 30, 2025,
On Soil and Speciation - In Defense of Plants, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Ecological speciation in sympatric palms: 5. Evidence for pleiotropic speciation genes using gene knockout and high-throughput phenotyping - Oxford Academic, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Plant genus (Acacia and Eucalyptus) alters soil microbial community structure and relative abundance within revegetated shelterbelts | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Plant genus (Acacia and Eucalyptus) alters soil microbial community structure and relative abundance within revegetated shelterbelts | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Direct Evidence Journal

Plant genus (Acacia and Eucalyptus) alters soil microbial community structure and relative abundance within revegetated shelterbelts | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Providing data insights critical to ecosystem restoration on Lord Howe Island - Dendra Systems, accessed July 30, 2025
Providing data insights critical to ecosystem restoration on Lord Howe Island - Dendra Systems, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support

Providing data insights critical to ecosystem restoration on Lord Howe Island - Dendra Systems, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers
Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers

View Source
Preview of Relating apparent electrical conductivity to soil properties across the north-central USA - USDA ARS, accessed August 9, 2025
Relating apparent electrical conductivity to soil properties across the north-central USA - USDA ARS, accessed August 9, 2025
Methodology Source Journal

Salinity - Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of Research and development investment delivering for Tiwi community, accessed July 30, 2025,
Research and development investment delivering for Tiwi community, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Tiwi Islands Fire and Weed Management Plan 2021

View Source
Preview of Soil Electrical Conductivity - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 30, 2025
Soil Electrical Conductivity - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 30, 2025
Methodology Source

Soil Electrical Conductivity - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil Electrical Conductivity - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed May 16, 2025,
Soil Electrical Conductivity - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed May 16, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

USDA 12

View Source
Preview of Soil electrical conductivity (EC) is a measure of the amount ... - USDA
Soil electrical conductivity (EC) is a measure of the amount ... - USDA
Methodology Source Journal

Regenerative Agriculture - NSW Department of Primary Industries

View Source
Preview of Soil electrical conductivity: The complete guide to measurements - METER Group, accessed July 22, 2025
Soil electrical conductivity: The complete guide to measurements - METER Group, accessed July 22, 2025
Direct Evidence Government

Soil electrical conductivity: The complete guide to measurements - METER Group

View Source
Preview of State Soils - Soil Science Australia, accessed July 18, 2025,
State Soils - Soil Science Australia, accessed July 18, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of The future role of the National Park Forestry Zone in a ... - DCCEEW, accessed July 30, 2025,
The future role of the National Park Forestry Zone in a ... - DCCEEW, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Norfolk Island Native Plants

View Source
Preview of Types of salinity and their prevention | Land and soil - Environment and Heritage, accessed July 30, 2025
Types of salinity and their prevention | Land and soil - Environment and Heritage, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Types of salinity and their prevention | Land and soil - Environment and Heritage, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of VEGETATION 0}' LORD HOWE ISLAND - Botanic Gardens of Sydney, accessed July 25, 2025,
VEGETATION 0}' LORD HOWE ISLAND - Botanic Gardens of Sydney, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Geology - Lord Howe Island Museum

View Source
Preview of What does it take to protect paradise? Ask Australia's Lord Howe Island - Adventure.com, accessed August 2, 2025,
What does it take to protect paradise? Ask Australia's Lord Howe Island - Adventure.com, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Lord Howe Island claims national award for being 'on the cusp' of record rat eradication, accessed August 2, 2025,

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 31 May 2026

Notes

The value is reported for the EC1:5 measurement method and applies to non-saline soils. Interpretation must consider soil texture. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.