Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-ASC-CON-SOC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

14.7 %
Range: 14.5 to 14.9 %
Optimal Range: 14.5 to 14.9
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 6 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 5 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

Based on a critical review of available scientific literature pertaining to Australian alpine and subalpine protected areas, a reference value of 14.7% SOC in the 0-10 cm soil layer is proposed as representative of the best available condition and high environmental health.

Metric Definition:

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) percentage in the 0-10 cm soil layer

Benchmark Definition:

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) percentage in the 0-10 cm soil layer representing the best available condition of nature and high environmental health in Australian alpine protected natural areas.

Justification:

This value is derived from recent research by Grover et al. (2023), who investigated soil properties at four mountain ridge top sites within the Alpine National Park, Victoria, focusing on the two highest SOC sites to represent the best available condition.

Sources (1)

Preview of Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 17, 2025,
Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 17, 2025, Journal

Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO ...

View Source

Supporting Sources (20)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Soil Organic Carbon – Role in Rainfed Farming Systems With ...
(PDF) Soil Organic Carbon – Role in Rainfed Farming Systems With ...
Contextual Support

Soil Organic Carbon – Role in Rainfed Farming Systems With Particular Reference to Australian Conditions - ResearchGate, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed May 11, 2025
Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Management Standards and Procedures for timber harvesting operations in Victoria’s State forests

View Source
Preview of Bluff Knoll, Stirling Range NP - Trails WA
Bluff Knoll, Stirling Range NP - Trails WA
Irrelevant

Bluff Knoll, Stirling Range NP - Trails WA

View Source
Preview of Carbon | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed on June 7, 2025,
Carbon | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed on June 7, 2025,
Direct Evidence Government

Cotching, W. E. (2012). Carbon stocks in Tasmanian soils. Soil Research, 50(2), 83-90.

View Source
Preview of Cotching, W. E., Oliver, G., Downie, M., Corkrey, R., & Doyle, R. B. (2013). Land use and management influences on surface soil organic carbon in Tasmania. Soil Research, 51(8), 615-620.
Cotching, W. E., Oliver, G., Downie, M., Corkrey, R., & Doyle, R. B. (2013). Land use and management influences on surface soil organic carbon in Tasmania. Soil Research, 51(8), 615-620.
Contextual Support Journal

Cotching, W. E., Oliver, G., Downie, M., Corkrey, R., & Doyle, R. B. (2013). Land use and management influences on surface soil organic carbon in Tasmania. Soil Research, 51(8), 615-620.

View Source
Preview of Ecology of Australia: the effects of nutrient-poor soils and intense fires - PubMed, accessed August 11, 2025,
Ecology of Australia: the effects of nutrient-poor soils and intense fires - PubMed, accessed August 11, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Ecology of Australia: the effects of nutrient-poor soils and intense fires - PubMed

View Source
Preview of Falls Creek Alpine Resort - Wikipedia
Falls Creek Alpine Resort - Wikipedia
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Falls Creek Alpine Resort - Wikipedia

View Source
Preview of Gully erosion assessment and control guide - Local Land Services, accessed on May 29, 2025,
Gully erosion assessment and control guide - Local Land Services, accessed on May 29, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Climate change impacts on our soils - AdaptNSW

View Source
Preview of Map of Mount Jim in Victoria - Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia
Map of Mount Jim in Victoria - Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia
Contextual Support

Map of Mount Jim in Victoria - Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia

View Source
Preview of Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed August 5, 2025,
Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks ... - BG

View Source
Preview of Marum Point - PeakVisor
Marum Point - PeakVisor
Irrelevant

Marum Point - PeakVisor

View Source
Preview of Marum Point Circuit - Bushwalking Victoria
Marum Point Circuit - Bushwalking Victoria
Irrelevant

Marum Point Circuit - Bushwalking Victoria

View Source
Preview of NSW Department of Primary Industries. (2021). Recycled Organics for Soil Health: Farmer and Advisor Guide.
NSW Department of Primary Industries. (2021). Recycled Organics for Soil Health: Farmer and Advisor Guide.
Direct Evidence Journal

NSW Department of Primary Industries. (2021). Recycled Organics for Soil Health: Farmer and Advisor Guide.

View Source
Preview of Predicting and regulating soil carbon in a warmer world | TERN Australia, accessed August 28, 2025,
Predicting and regulating soil carbon in a warmer world | TERN Australia, accessed August 28, 2025,
Direct Evidence Government

Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania. (2025). Tasmanian High Soil Carbon Landscapes project.

View Source
Preview of Recovery of Alpine Herbfield on a Closed Walking Track in the ...
Recovery of Alpine Herbfield on a Closed Walking Track in the ...
Contextual Support Journal

Recovery of Alpine Herbfield on a Closed Walking Track in the Kosciuszko Alpine Zone, Australia - BioOne Complete

View Source
Preview of Ruined Castle, basalt columns near Falls Creek in Alpine National Park. Victoria, Australia Stock Photo - Alamy
Ruined Castle, basalt columns near Falls Creek in Alpine National Park. Victoria, Australia Stock Photo - Alamy
Irrelevant

Ruined Castle, basalt columns near Falls Creek in Alpine National Park. Victoria, Australia Stock Photo - Alamy

View Source
Preview of Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics and Influencing Factors in the Zoige Alpine Wetland from the 1980s to 2020 Based on a Random Forest Model - MDPI
Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics and Influencing Factors in the Zoige Alpine Wetland from the 1980s to 2020 Based on a Random Forest Model - MDPI
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics and Influencing Factors in the Zoige Alpine Wetland from the 1980s to 2020 Based on a Random Forest Model - MDPI

View Source
Preview of Soil organic carbon in Western Australian - Department of Agriculture and Food
Soil organic carbon in Western Australian - Department of Agriculture and Food
Contextual Support

Soil organic carbon in Western Australian - Department of Agriculture and Food

View Source
Preview of The Buller Huts Trail (96km) - Alpine National Park, VIC - Trail Hiking Australia
The Buller Huts Trail (96km) - Alpine National Park, VIC - Trail Hiking Australia
Irrelevant

The Buller Huts Trail (96km) - Alpine National Park, VIC - Trail Hiking Australia

View Source
Preview of Wilson, B. R., Oliver, I., Jenkins, M., & Robertson, S. (2021). Distribution, nature and threats to soils of the Australian Alps: A review. Austral Ecology, 46(2), 241-260.
Wilson, B. R., Oliver, I., Jenkins, M., & Robertson, S. (2021). Distribution, nature and threats to soils of the Australian Alps: A review. Austral Ecology, 46(2), 241-260.
Direct Evidence Journal

Wilson, B. R., Oliver, I., Jenkins, M., & Robertson, S. (2021). Distribution, nature and threats to soils of the Australian Alps: A review. Austral Ecology, 46(2), 241-260.

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 17 Mar 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. These sites, characterized by Alpine Humus Soils, represent the best available condition and high environmental health in Australian alpine protected natural areas.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-ASC-CON-SOC family.

3 % Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
LowerThreshold Active v1
— % Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
OptimalRange Active v1
— % High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
— % High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
— % High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
— % High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
— % High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
— % High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
12 % Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
MinimumOnly Active v1
— % Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
5.8 % Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
LowerThreshold Active v1
2 % Low
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
LowerThreshold Active v1