Soil Nitrogen

AUS-TDG-AGR-SON General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 1300 to 1400 mg/kg
Optimal Range: 1300 to 1400
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 2 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary LowerThreshold Guard

Evidence & Context

The reference value of 1300−1400 mg/kg total nitrogen in the topsoil (0-5 cm, convertible to 0-10 cm with consideration of stratification) is derived from a long-term no-till experiment on a Red Chromosol, a common agricultural soil type in temperate Australia.

Metric Definition:

Total soil nitrogen concentration in the topsoil (0-5 cm, convertible to 0-10 cm)

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the best available range of total soil nitrogen concentration in the topsoil under long-term no-till regenerative agricultural practice in temperate dry woodlands and native grasslands.

Justification:

Derived from a long-term no-till experiment on a Red Chromosol, representing a significant improvement over conventionally tilled soils and reflecting sustainable regenerative management.

Sources (1)

Preview of Strategic tillage of a long-term, no-till soil has little impact on soil characteristics or crop growth over five years
Strategic tillage of a long-term, no-till soil has little impact on soil characteristics or crop growth over five years Journal

What is Regenerative Agriculture? - Soils For Life, accessed August 13, 2025

View Source

Supporting Sources (26)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Managing cattle grazing intensity: effects on soil organic ...
(PDF) Managing cattle grazing intensity: effects on soil organic ...
Contextual Support Journal

Nitrogen In Soil Explained - Soil Quality Knowledge Base, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of (PDF) Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - ResearchGate
(PDF) Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - ResearchGate
Contextual Support

(PDF) Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of $3.5M national project to examine ways to boost soil organic matter - CSIRO
$3.5M national project to examine ways to boost soil organic matter - CSIRO
Contextual Support Government

$3.5M national project to examine ways to boost soil organic matter - CSIRO

View Source
Preview of Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025,
Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

How should we manage our soils to increase soil carbon?, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of Biological nitrogen fixation and prospects for ecological intensification in cereal-based cropping systems - PubMed Central
Biological nitrogen fixation and prospects for ecological intensification in cereal-based cropping systems - PubMed Central
Contextual Support Journal

Biological nitrogen fixation and prospects for ecological intensification in cereal-based cropping systems - PubMed Central

View Source
Preview of Categories - nitrogen - CSIRO Data Access Portal
Categories - nitrogen - CSIRO Data Access Portal
Contextual Support Government

Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Nitrogen (3" resolution) - Release 2 - CSIRO Data Access Portal

View Source
Preview of Effects of fire frequency and mowing on a ... - CSIRO Publishing
Effects of fire frequency and mowing on a ... - CSIRO Publishing
Contextual Support Journal

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

View Source
Preview of Focus Group – Regenerative agriculture for soil health - EU CAP Network
Focus Group – Regenerative agriculture for soil health - EU CAP Network
Contextual Support Journal

grazing - in THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS

View Source
Preview of Global Change Impacts on Australian Wheat Cropping: Studies on Hydrology, Fertiliser Management and Mixed Crop Rotations Howden - ResearchGate
Global Change Impacts on Australian Wheat Cropping: Studies on Hydrology, Fertiliser Management and Mixed Crop Rotations Howden - ResearchGate
Contextual Support

Global Change Impacts on Australian Wheat Cropping: Studies on Hydrology, Fertiliser Management and Mixed Crop Rotations Howden - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Long-term use of cover crops and no-till shift soil microbial community life strategies in agricultural soil - PubMed Central
Long-term use of cover crops and no-till shift soil microbial community life strategies in agricultural soil - PubMed Central
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative Agriculture Metrics: Soil chapter

View Source
Preview of Long‐term (64 years) annual burning lessened soil organic carbon and nitrogen content in a humid subtropical grassland - EPub Bayreuth
Long‐term (64 years) annual burning lessened soil organic carbon and nitrogen content in a humid subtropical grassland - EPub Bayreuth
Contextual Support Journal

Long‐term (64 years) annual burning lessened soil organic carbon and nitrogen content in a humid subtropical grassland - EPub Bayreuth

View Source
Preview of Nitrogen balance in Australia and nitrogen use efficiency on Australian farms | Request PDF
Nitrogen balance in Australia and nitrogen use efficiency on Australian farms | Request PDF
Contextual Support Journal

Nitrogen balance in Australia and nitrogen use efficiency on Australian farms | Request PDF

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025
Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture is key to dry season preparation - Soils For Life, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
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

View Source
Preview of Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,
Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Regenerative opportunities for building soil biological resilience – a case study in the low-rainfall zone in Southern Australia - CSIRO Research Publications Repository
Regenerative opportunities for building soil biological resilience – a case study in the low-rainfall zone in Southern Australia - CSIRO Research Publications Repository
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Sustainability of nutrient management in grain production systems of south-west Australia

View Source
Preview of Review of C:N Ratios in Vegetation, Litter and Soil Under Australian Native Forests and Plantations - DCCEEW
Review of C:N Ratios in Vegetation, Litter and Soil Under Australian Native Forests and Plantations - DCCEEW
Contextual Support Journal

Review of C:N Ratios in Vegetation, Litter and Soil ... - DCCEEW

View Source
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 Government

Geology | Norfolk Island National Park | Parks Australia

View Source
Preview of Soil management in relation to sustainable agriculture and ...
Soil management in relation to sustainable agriculture and ...
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face ... - Frontiers

View Source
Preview of Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING
Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING

View Source
Preview of Stubble and nutrient management to build soil carbon – challenges ...
Stubble and nutrient management to build soil carbon – challenges ...
Contextual Support Government

Bell et al. (GRDC) 26

View Source
Preview of Sustainability of nutrient management in grain production systems of south-west Australia
Sustainability of nutrient management in grain production systems of south-west Australia
Contextual Support Journal

The Abundance of Microbial Functional Genes in Grassy Woodlands ...

View Source
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,

View Source
Preview of The interaction of seasonal rainfall and nitrogen fertiliser rate on soil N 2 O emission, total N loss and crop yield of dryland sorghum and sunflower grown on sub-tropical Vertosols - CSIRO Publishing
The interaction of seasonal rainfall and nitrogen fertiliser rate on soil N 2 O emission, total N loss and crop yield of dryland sorghum and sunflower grown on sub-tropical Vertosols - CSIRO Publishing
Contextual Support Journal

Soil management in relation to sustainable agriculture and ...

View Source
Preview of The nitrogen book: Principles of soil nitrogen fertility management in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales farming
The nitrogen book: Principles of soil nitrogen fertility management in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales farming
Contextual Support Journal

Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of www.fertilizer.org
www.fertilizer.org
Contextual Support

www.fertilizer.org

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Superseded
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 1 Jun 2026
  • Effective To 1 Jun 2026

Notes

Represents a tangible and sustained soil nitrogen level achieved under minimal soil disturbance, indicating high environmental health in agricultural crop production in temperate dry woodlands and native grasslands.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TDG-AGR-SON family.

— mg/kg Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Conservation Target
OptimalRange Active v2
750 mg/kg Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Conservation Target
LowerThreshold Active v1