Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TMS-AGR-SEC General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 0.2 to 0.5 dS/m

Optimal Range: 0.2 to 0.5

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. The scoring engine uses 17 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 16 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

An Optimal Range for ECe is tentatively suggested as 0.2 dS/m to 0.5 dS/m.

Metric Definition:

Optimal range of soil electrical conductivity (ECe) supporting ecosystem health and sustainable production

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the optimal range of soil electrical conductivity that supports active organic matter cycling and sufficient nutrient availability without salinity stress in Australian Tropical Monsoonal Savannas under agricultural crop production.

Justification:

Proposed range reflects balance between nutrient availability and non-saline conditions, based on synthesis of literature and analogous tropical agricultural systems.

Sources (1)

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

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

Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation BASE Contextual, Soil ..., accessed July 20, 2025

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

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.

Preview of Agriculture Victoria. Soil Salinity Class Ranges.

Agriculture Victoria. Soil Salinity Class Ranges.

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Government

Agriculture Victoria. Soil Salinity Class Ranges.

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

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.

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

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).

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.

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

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).

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

Short‐term impact of fire on the total soil microbial and nitrifier communities in a wet savanna

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Contextual Support Journal

INNOVATIONS FOR REGENERATIVE LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT - Soils For Life

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

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, accessed July 17, 2025

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

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

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Behind The Scenes: Fighting Invasive Species in Northern Australia - GIST Impact, accessed July 23, 2025,

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

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.

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

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

Methodology Source Government

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

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 31 May 2026

Notes

Range hypothesized to support nutrient uptake and microbial processes without osmotic stress; not necessarily maximized agronomic yield range. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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