Soil Nitrogen

AUS-TSR-LVG-SON General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

7100 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 CompositeFramework, 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.

Contributing Benchmarks

CompositeFramework Primary MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The reference value of 7100 mg/kg represents the mean Total Nitrogen (TN) in the topsoil (0-10 cm) of well-managed, non-degraded pastures on Ferrosol soils, a key soil type of cleared tropical rainforests in Australia.

Metric Definition:

Total Soil Nitrogen concentration in the topsoil (0-10 cm) of well-managed pasture on Ferrosol soils.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the typical total soil nitrogen concentration in the top 0-10 cm of well-managed pastures on Ferrosol soils within tropical rainforest regions of Australia, indicating a stable and high-health soil condition.

Justification:

This benchmark is based on direct field measurements from well-managed pastures on Ferrosol soils where soil nitrogen levels were not statistically different from remnant rainforest, indicating a stable, high-health condition.

Sources (3)

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Soil properties in remnant riparian rainforest, pasture and reforestation plantings in a subtropical Australian catchment

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Supporting Sources (32)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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(PDF) Nutrient cycling in tropical pasture ecosystems - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Nutrient cycling in tropical pasture ecosystems - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025,

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ASC - FERROSOLS - Soil Science Australia, accessed July 18, 2025,
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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

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Preview of Common soil types | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed August 9, 2025
Common soil types | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed August 9, 2025
Contextual Support Government

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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,
Direct Evidence Journal

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.

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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,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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

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Preview of Environmental Factors Affecting Australia's Livestock Industries - MLA, accessed August 8, 2025
Environmental Factors Affecting Australia's Livestock Industries - MLA, accessed August 8, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Effects of Livestock Grazing on Wetlands: Literature Review - Waikato Regional Council

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Preview of Hydrology and runoff water quality from three improved pastures compared with virgin brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) woodland over 8 years in semiarid Australia - CSIRO Publishing
Hydrology and runoff water quality from three improved pastures compared with virgin brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) woodland over 8 years in semiarid Australia - CSIRO Publishing
Contextual Support Journal

Hydrology and runoff water quality from three improved pastures compared with virgin brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) woodland over 8 years in semiarid Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 18, 2025,

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Preview of Industry | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 13, 2025,
Industry | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 13, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Alluvial Gully Erosion Rates and Processes Across the Mitchell River Fluvial Megafan in Northern Queensland, Australia - Resilient Landscapes Hub, accessed July 13, 2025

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Preview of Land management for graziers | Business Queensland, accessed August 8, 2025
Land management for graziers | Business Queensland, accessed August 8, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Managing Gully Erosion - NQ Dry Tropics

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Preview of Land use and management influences on surface soil organic carbon in Tasmania, accessed July 18, 2025,
Land use and management influences on surface soil organic carbon in Tasmania, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Land use and management influences on surface soil organic carbon in Tasmania, accessed July 18, 2025,

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Living soils in agriculture | TERN Australia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Living soils in agriculture | TERN Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,

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MOLYBDENUM - Incitec Pivot Fertilisers, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

MOLYBDENUM - Incitec Pivot Fertilisers, accessed July 18, 2025,

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Preview of Nitrate accumulation under cropping in the Ferrosols of Far North Queensland wet tropics, accessed July 18, 2025,
Nitrate accumulation under cropping in the Ferrosols of Far North Queensland wet tropics, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support

Nitrate accumulation under cropping in the Ferrosols of Far North Queensland wet tropics, accessed July 18, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Nitrogen - Qld | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 25, 2025,
Nitrogen - Qld | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Soil Nitrogen Supply | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au

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

Nitrogen deficiency-Improved Pasture | Yara Australia

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Preview of Nitrogen fertilisation in tropical pastures: what are the impacts of this practice? - alice Embrapa, accessed July 18, 2025,
Nitrogen fertilisation in tropical pastures: what are the impacts of this practice? - alice Embrapa, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Nitrogen fertilisation in tropical pastures: what are the impacts of this practice? - alice Embrapa, accessed July 18, 2025,

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Preview of P.PSH.1050 – Phosphorus management and requirements of tropical legume pasture swards - MLA, accessed July 30, 2025,
P.PSH.1050 – Phosphorus management and requirements of tropical legume pasture swards - MLA, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

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Pasture dieback — signs and symptoms - FutureBeef, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Pasture dieback �� signs and symptoms - FutureBeef, accessed July 18, 2025,

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Pastures: Mackay Whitsunday region - FutureBeef, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Pastures: Mackay Whitsunday region - FutureBeef, accessed July 18, 2025,

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Preview of Remediation of soil acidification by form of nitrogen fertilizer on grass swards of Australia and Thailand, accessed July 18, 2025,
Remediation of soil acidification by form of nitrogen fertilizer on grass swards of Australia and Thailand, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Remediation of soil acidification by form of nitrogen fertilizer on grass swards of Australia and Thailand, accessed July 18, 2025,

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Runoff, soil loss, and nutrient transport from cropping systems on Red Ferrosols in tropical northern Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

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Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture - MLA, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Coexistence of shrubs and grass in a semi-arid landscape: a case study of mulga (Acacia aneura, Mimosaceae) shrublands embedded in fire-prone spinifex (Triodia pungens, Poaceae) hummock grasslands - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany

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Sustainable Agriculture | NQ Dry Tropics, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

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Preview of Tailoring Organic Fertilisers for Different Soil Types in Australia - SONIC Natural Farming, accessed July 18, 2025,
Tailoring Organic Fertilisers for Different Soil Types in Australia - SONIC Natural Farming, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Tailoring Organic Fertilisers for Different Soil Types in Australia - SONIC Natural Farming, accessed July 18, 2025,

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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,

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Preview of Tropical Grasslands Vol. 2, No. 1, May, 1968 - SOURCES OF NITROGEN FOR QUEENSLAND PASTURES EF HENZELL, accessed July 18, 2025,
Tropical Grasslands Vol. 2, No. 1, May, 1968 - SOURCES OF NITROGEN FOR QUEENSLAND PASTURES EF HENZELL, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Tropical Grasslands Vol. 2, No. 1, May, 1968 - SOURCES OF NITROGEN FOR QUEENSLAND PASTURES EF HENZELL, accessed July 18, 2025,

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Preview of Tropical Pasture - Barenbrug Australia, accessed July 18, 2025,
Tropical Pasture - Barenbrug Australia, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

P.PSH.1050 – Phosphorus management and requirements of tropical legume pasture swards - MLA, accessed July 18, 2025

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Preview of Tropical perennial grasses - the role of fertilisers and nitrogen - NSW ..., accessed July 18, 2025,
Tropical perennial grasses - the role of fertilisers and nitrogen - NSW ..., accessed July 18, 2025,
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Tropical perennial grasses - the role of fertilisers and nitrogen - NSW ..., accessed July 18, 2025,

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Preview of Understanding pasture management and sustainability | Business Queensland, accessed July 18, 2025,
Understanding pasture management and sustainability | Business Queensland, accessed July 18, 2025,
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GONE: Australian animals extinct since the 1960s | Invasive Species Council

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Preview of What do you see and when? What could this indicate? What test can I do to confirm? - MLA, accessed July 18, 2025,
What do you see and when? What could this indicate? What test can I do to confirm? - MLA, accessed July 18, 2025,
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What do you see and when? What could this indicate? What test can I do to confirm? - MLA, accessed July 18, 2025,

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Preview of www.barrierreef.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,
www.barrierreef.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 1 Jun 2026

Notes

Represents a robust, scientifically defensible floor for a high-functioning pasture system on Ferrosol soils in the tropical rainforest biome. No upper detrimental threshold for total soil nitrogen stock is supported; high stocks are beneficial. The lower critical threshold is functionally defined by pasture rundown symptoms rather than a fixed numeric value. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.