Soil Nitrogen — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

Benchmark Value

2500 mg/kg

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: Point

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is Point, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Evidence & Context

The value of 2500 mg/kg applies to Clay/Loam soils (e.g., basalt-derived Ferrosols) and is derived from a target SOC of 3.0%.

Metric Definition:

Total Soil Nitrogen (TN) concentration in soil, measured in mg/kg.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the total soil nitrogen concentration for Clay/Loam soils in sustainable agricultural cropping systems, reflecting a 'best-on-offer' condition based on soil texture and organic carbon targets.

Justification:

No direct field data exists for this specific context. This benchmark is a scientifically derived proxy based on the strong relationship between Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) and Total Nitrogen (TN). The reference value represents a 'best-on-offer' condition for sustainable cropping, differentiated by soil texture. The value of 2500 mg/kg applies to Clay/Loam soils (e.g., basalt-derived Ferrosols) and is derived from a target SOC of 3.0%. Both are calculated using a C:N ratio of 11.8, representing a healthy, stable soil ecosystem.

Sources (1)

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A review of sampling designs for the measurement of soil organic carbon in Australian grazing lands - Integrity Systems, accessed July 27, 2025, Government

Total nitrogen levels as a key constraint on soil organic carbon ...

Supporting Sources (49)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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(PDF) Addressing the nitrogen problem in sugarcane production to reduce pollution of the Great Barrier Reef - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support

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Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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Contextual Support Government

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support Government

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Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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Nitrogen balance in tropical agrosystems - Horizon, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support Government

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Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support Regulatory Framework Government

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Contextual Support Government

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support Government

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Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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Context

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

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 1 Jun 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 1700 mg/kg. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are condition-dependent and related to nitrogen inputs exceeding ecosystem capacity, causing environmental harm. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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