Water Nitrate — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

Benchmark Value

0.005 mg/L

Range: 0.005 to — mg/L

Optimal Range: 0.005 to —

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: Point

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 3 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 2 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The recommended reference value for water nitrate is 0.005 mg/L as Nitrate-Nitrogen (NO3−N).

Metric Definition:

Water nitrate concentration in runoff from best-practice agricultural systems in Australia's Tropical and Subtropical Rainforests biome.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the median Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) concentration from the Daintree Basin, a minimally disturbed (95% natural vegetation) catchment, serving as the best available real-world proxy for a high-health system in Australia's Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests biome under Agricultural Crop Production.

Justification:

This value is derived from comprehensive monitoring of the Daintree Basin, a minimally disturbed catchment that serves as the best available proxy for a high-health system in the region.

Sources (1)

Preview of Updating nitrate toxicity effects on freshwater aquatic ... - Envirolink

Updating nitrate toxicity effects on freshwater aquatic ... - Envirolink Journal

Updating nitrate toxicity effects on freshwater aquatic ... - Envirolink, accessed July 22, 2025,

Supporting Sources (34)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Best management practices for maintaining water quality in sugarcane cultivation, accessed July 28, 2025

(PDF) Best management practices for maintaining water quality in sugarcane cultivation, accessed July 28, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Best management practices for maintaining water quality in sugarcane cultivation, accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of (PDF) Nitrate retention under sugarcane in wet tropical Queensland ..., accessed July 18, 2025

(PDF) Nitrate retention under sugarcane in wet tropical Queensland ..., accessed July 18, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Nitrate retention under sugarcane in wet tropical Queensland ..., accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of (PDF) Reducing dissolved inorganic nitrogen in surface runoff water ..., accessed July 18, 2025

(PDF) Reducing dissolved inorganic nitrogen in surface runoff water ..., accessed July 18, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

(PDF) Reducing dissolved inorganic nitrogen in surface runoff water ..., accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of 5.7 Nitrates | Monitoring & Assessment | US EPA, accessed August 1, 2025

5.7 Nitrates | Monitoring & Assessment | US EPA, accessed August 1, 2025

Contextual Support Government

5.7 Nitrates | Monitoring & Assessment | US EPA, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of 7 Reasons why Farmers are Making the Shift to Natural Fertilisers, accessed July 18, 2025

7 Reasons why Farmers are Making the Shift to Natural Fertilisers, accessed July 18, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

7 Reasons why Farmers are Making the Shift to Natural Fertilisers, accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of Agricultural Land Management Practice Adoption Methods – Reef Water Quality Report Card 2017 and 2018, accessed July 18, 2025

Agricultural Land Management Practice Adoption Methods – Reef Water Quality Report Card 2017 and 2018, accessed July 18, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Agricultural Land Management Practice Adoption Methods – Reef Water Quality Report Card 2017 and 2018, accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of ANZEC Guidelines - Risk Assessment for Contaminated Sites in New Zealand, accessed July 18, 2025,

ANZEC Guidelines - Risk Assessment for Contaminated Sites in New Zealand, accessed July 18, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Government

Salinity - Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed July 31, 2025,

Preview of Best practice farming in Great Barrier Reef catchments | Business ..., accessed July 25, 2025,

Best practice farming in Great Barrier Reef catchments | Business ..., accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Best practice farming in Great Barrier Reef catchments | Business Queensland, accessed July 20, 2025

Preview of Cane - Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan, accessed July 18, 2025

Cane - Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan, accessed July 18, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Cane - Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan, accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of Catchments and corals: terrestrial runoff to the Great Barrier Reef, accessed July 19, 2025,

Catchments and corals: terrestrial runoff to the Great Barrier Reef, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

VEGETATION 0}' LORD HOWE ISLAND - Botanic Gardens of Sydney, accessed July 28, 2025,

Preview of Distribution of nitrates and its effect on plant uptake efficiency in Central Queensland farming systems, accessed July 18, 2025

Distribution of nitrates and its effect on plant uptake efficiency in Central Queensland farming systems, accessed July 18, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Distribution of nitrates and its effect on plant uptake efficiency in Central Queensland farming systems, accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of Estimated Nitrate Concentrations in Groundwater Used for Drinking | US EPA, accessed August 8, 2025

Estimated Nitrate Concentrations in Groundwater Used for Drinking | US EPA, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Estimated Nitrate Concentrations in Groundwater Used for Drinking | US EPA, accessed on May 31, 2025

Preview of Flagship Cairns trial provides solution to reduce nitrate run-off onto ..., accessed July 18, 2025

Flagship Cairns trial provides solution to reduce nitrate run-off onto ..., accessed July 18, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Flagship Cairns trial provides solution to reduce nitrate run-off onto ..., accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of Food for thought: how regenerative agriculture is changing Australia's food industry, accessed July 18, 2025

Food for thought: how regenerative agriculture is changing Australia's food industry, accessed July 18, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Food for thought: how regenerative agriculture is changing Australia's food industry, accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of Identifying the land-based sources of suspended sediments ..., accessed July 18, 2025

Identifying the land-based sources of suspended sediments ..., accessed July 18, 2025

Contextual Support

Identifying the land-based sources of suspended sediments ..., accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of Lower Burdekin Water Quality Program - Great Barrier Reef ..., accessed July 18, 2025

Lower Burdekin Water Quality Program - Great Barrier Reef ..., accessed July 18, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Lower Burdekin Water Quality Program - Great Barrier Reef ..., accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of National look at nitrate contamination of Ground Water, accessed July 18, 2025

National look at nitrate contamination of Ground Water, accessed July 18, 2025

Contextual Support Government

National look at nitrate contamination of Ground Water, accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of Nitrate dynamics in groundwater under sugarcane in a wet-tropics catchment - PMC, accessed July 18, 2025

Nitrate dynamics in groundwater under sugarcane in a wet-tropics catchment - PMC, accessed July 18, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Nitrate dynamics in groundwater under sugarcane in a wet-tropics catchment - PMC, accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of Nitrate import–export dynamics in groundwater interacting with surface-water in a wet-tropical environment - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Soil Research, accessed July 18, 2025

Nitrate import–export dynamics in groundwater interacting with surface-water in a wet-tropical environment - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Soil Research, accessed July 18, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Nitrate import–export dynamics in groundwater interacting with surface-water in a wet-tropical environment - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Soil Research, accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of Nitrate in freshwater and marine water - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 2, 2025,

Nitrate in freshwater and marine water - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

Nitrate - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 1, 2025

Preview of Nitrate loads in sub-tropical headwater streams driven by intensive horticulture - PubMed, accessed July 18, 2025

Nitrate loads in sub-tropical headwater streams driven by intensive horticulture - PubMed, accessed July 18, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Nitrate loads in sub-tropical headwater streams driven by intensive horticulture - PubMed, accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of Nitrate retention under sugarcane in wet tropical Queensland deep soil profiles, accessed July 19, 2025,

Nitrate retention under sugarcane in wet tropical Queensland deep soil profiles, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Nitrate retention under sugarcane in wet tropical Queensland deep soil profiles, accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of Rainforest - WetlandInfo - Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, accessed July 18, 2025,

Rainforest - WetlandInfo - Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Nutrient distribution and cycling in a subtropical rainforest in New South Wales, accessed July 19, 2025,

Preview of Regenerative Agriculture – Farming The Way Nature Intended | Brookfarm, accessed July 18, 2025

Regenerative Agriculture – Farming The Way Nature Intended | Brookfarm, accessed July 18, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative Agriculture – Farming The Way Nature Intended | Brookfarm, accessed July 18, 2025

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

NCC: Regenerative Agriculture and Soil Health - Wet Tropics Plan, accessed July 27, 2025,

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 August 28, 2025,

Preview of Relationships between land use and nutrient concentrations in streams draining a 'wet-tropics' catchment in northern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research, accessed July 19, 2025,

Relationships between land use and nutrient concentrations in streams draining a 'wet-tropics' catchment in northern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Relationships between land use and nutrient ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 22, 2025,

Preview of Relative risks to the Great Barrier Reef from degraded water quality, accessed August 3, 2025,

Relative risks to the Great Barrier Reef from degraded water quality, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Relative risks to the Great Barrier Reef from degraded water quality, accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of Requirements for sugarcane growers | Environment, land and water, accessed July 28, 2025

Requirements for sugarcane growers | Environment, land and water, accessed July 28, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Requirements for sugarcane growers | Environment, land and water, accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of Supporting water quality monitoring for sugar cane farming - Great Barrier Reef Foundation, accessed July 18, 2025

Supporting water quality monitoring for sugar cane farming - Great Barrier Reef Foundation, accessed July 18, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Supporting water quality monitoring for sugar cane farming - Great Barrier Reef Foundation, accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of Understanding the economics of improved management practices and systems on sugarcane farms - Queensland Government publications, accessed July 18, 2025

Understanding the economics of improved management practices and systems on sugarcane farms - Queensland Government publications, accessed July 18, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Factors associated with the suppressiveness of sugarcane soils to plant-parasitic nematodes, accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of Using the ANZECC Guidelines and Water Quality Objectives in NSW, accessed August 11, 2025,

Using the ANZECC Guidelines and Water Quality Objectives in NSW, accessed August 11, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Journal

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000) - Tuvalu Environment Data Portal, accessed July 19, 2025,

Preview of Water quality for primary industries, accessed July 30, 2025,

Water quality for primary industries, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Development of regional water quality and catchment guidelines for the conservation of aquatic ecosystems - NSW Environment Protection Authority

Preview of wet tropics report card 2024 - waterway environment results, accessed July 18, 2025,

wet tropics report card 2024 - waterway environment results, accessed July 18, 2025,

Direct Evidence

wet tropics report card 2024 - waterway environment results, accessed July 18, 2025

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 17 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Boundary: No lower critical threshold exists for nitrate in runoff; lower concentrations consistently indicate better ecosystem health and on-farm efficiency. The natural baseline of ~0.005 mg/L is the ideal state. Upper Boundary: A detrimental threshold is defined by ecotoxicological trigger values. The ANZG (2018) guidelines refer to the NZ MfE (2013) report, which suggests a chronic toxicity "Grading" value of 1.0 mg/L NO3−N for 95% species protection in freshwater. Optimal Range: The optimal range is from the natural baseline (~0.005 mg/L) upwards, with no ecological benefit and increasing risk associated with higher concentrations.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSR-AGR-WNI family.