Soil Nitrogen

AUS-TMS-LVG-SON General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

600 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 derived benchmark for topsoil (0-10 cm) is 600 mg/kg.

Metric Definition:

Total soil nitrogen content in topsoil (0-10 cm) under best-practice livestock grazing management in Australian Tropical Monsoonal Savannas.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the best available condition for total soil nitrogen in the top 10 cm of soil under long-term regenerative grazing in Australian Tropical Monsoonal Savannas. It reflects a conservative improvement over sustainable grazing baselines, indicating healthier soil nitrogen levels.

Justification:

It is derived by applying a conservative 20% improvement over the baseline of 500 mg/kg measured in sustainable, moderately stocked savanna systems. This improvement reflects the significant increases in total nitrogen observed under regenerative management.

Sources (3)

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, 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.

Preview of Managing cattle grazing intensity: effects on soil organic matter and soil nitrogen, accessed August 5, 2025,

Managing cattle grazing intensity: effects on soil organic matter and soil nitrogen, accessed August 5, 2025, Journal

Is tree planting enough? Investigation of soil condition and composition of vegetation and invertebrate assemblages after ecological restoration in agricultural landscapes - Murdoch Research Portal, accessed July 23, 2025

Preview of RESEARCH PROGRESS ON THE IMPACT OF NITROGEN DEPOSITION ON GLOBAL GRASSLANDS - HEP Journals

RESEARCH PROGRESS ON THE IMPACT OF NITROGEN DEPOSITION ON GLOBAL GRASSLANDS - HEP Journals Journal

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 - CSIRO Research Publications Repository

Supporting Sources (19)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Nitrogen cycling in tropical and temperate savannas - ResearchGate

(PDF) Nitrogen cycling in tropical and temperate savannas - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Nitrogen cycling in tropical and temperate savannas - ResearchGate

Preview of Andropogon gayanus (Gamba Grass) Invasion Increases Fire-mediated Nitrogen Losses in the Tropical Savannas of Northern Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Andropogon gayanus (Gamba Grass) Invasion Increases Fire-mediated Nitrogen Losses in the Tropical Savannas of Northern Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Nitrogen cycling in tropical and temperate savannas - ResearchGate

Preview of Carbon and nitrogen stores in a savanna landscape in the Berrimah Agricultural Research Centre, northern Australia. CSIRO.

Carbon and nitrogen stores in a savanna landscape in the Berrimah Agricultural Research Centre, northern Australia. CSIRO.

Contextual Support Journal

Davies, J. (2017). Carbon and water exchange in Australian tropical savannas. PhD Thesis, James Cook University.

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

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 - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 18, 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 - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 18, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Case Study - Regenerative Rangelands - Landcare Australia, accessed July 23, 2025

Preview of Effect of fire and tree‐grass patches on soil nitrogen in Australian tropical savannas

Effect of fire and tree‐grass patches on soil nitrogen in Australian tropical savannas

Contextual Support Journal

Land use change and the impact on greenhouse gas exchange in north Australian savanna soils - BG

Preview of Effect of reduced grazing pressure on sediment and nutrient yields in savanna rangeland streams draining to the Great Barrier Reef - CSIRO Research Publications Repository

Effect of reduced grazing pressure on sediment and nutrient yields in savanna rangeland streams draining to the Great Barrier Reef - CSIRO Research Publications Repository

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) A review of the salt sensitivity of the Australian freshwater biota

Preview of Impacts of Grazing Disturbance on Soil Nitrogen Component ... - MDPI

Impacts of Grazing Disturbance on Soil Nitrogen Component ... - MDPI

Contextual Support Journal

Impacts of Grazing Disturbance on Soil Nitrogen Component ... - MDPI

Preview of Land use change and the impact on greenhouse gas exchange in north Australian savanna soils - BG

Land use change and the impact on greenhouse gas exchange in north Australian savanna soils - BG

Contextual Support Journal

N2O, NO, N2 and CO2 emissions from tropical savanna and grassland of northern Australia: an incubation experiment with intact soil cores - BG

Preview of Managing cattle grazing intensity: effects on soil organic matter and'soil'nitrogen

Managing cattle grazing intensity: effects on soil organic matter and'soil'nitrogen

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Effect of fire and tree‐grass patches on soil nitrogen in Australian tropical savannas

Preview of N2O, NO, N2 and CO2 emissions from tropical savanna and grassland of northern Australia: an incubation experiment with intact soil cores - BG

N2O, NO, N2 and CO2 emissions from tropical savanna and grassland of northern Australia: an incubation experiment with intact soil cores - BG

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Organic Matter Dynamics and Carbon Sequestration in Australian Tropical Soils

Preview of Nitrogen Runoff Generation Rates from Pasture Legumes and Changes Since Land Development - The Brigalow Catchment Study

Nitrogen Runoff Generation Rates from Pasture Legumes and Changes Since Land Development - The Brigalow Catchment Study

Contextual Support Journal

Nitrogen Runoff Generation Rates from Pasture Legumes and Changes Since Land Development - The Brigalow Catchment Study

Preview of PhD Thesis: Carbon dynamics in tropical savannas: from leaf to landscape (Davies, 2017)

PhD Thesis: Carbon dynamics in tropical savannas: from leaf to landscape (Davies, 2017)

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Chen, X., Hutley, L.B., Eamus, D., Beringer, J. (2003). Carbon balance of a tropical savanna of northern Australia. Oecologia, 137, 405-416.

Preview of Resting Subtropical Grasslands from Grazing in the Wet Season ...

Resting Subtropical Grasslands from Grazing in the Wet Season ...

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Resting Subtropical Grasslands from Grazing in the Wet Season Boosts Biocrust Hotspots to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed July 15, 2025,

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

Preview of Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands a critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands a critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Managing cattle grazing intensity: effects on soil organic matter and soil nitrogen, accessed July 23, 2025

Preview of Soil Organic Matter Dynamics and Carbon Sequestration in Australian Tropical Soils

Soil Organic Matter Dynamics and Carbon Sequestration in Australian Tropical Soils

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nitrogen Runoff Generation Rates from Pasture Legumes and Changes Since Land Development - The Brigalow Catchment Study

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Contextual Support

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Preview of Untitled

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Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 1 Jun 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: A state of dysfunction is indicated by TN levels falling significantly below 500 mg/kg, associated with the loss of nitrogen-fixing biocrusts and impaired nutrient cycling. Optimal Range: The functional range for a healthy, sustainable system is estimated to be 500-600 mg/kg. Upper Detrimental Threshold: There is no evidence of a detrimental upper limit for nitrogen accumulated via natural ecosystem processes. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.