Soil Phosphorus

AUS-ASC-LVG-SOP General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

20 mg/kg

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 20

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: MinimumOnly

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 2 benchmarks together — the MinimumOnly form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

MinimumOnly Primary MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Upper Detrimental Threshold: Critically, Colwell P ²60 20 mg/kg (for moderate PBI soils) is associated with negative impacts on native perennial grasses.

Metric Definition:

Colwell P soil phosphorus concentration indicating upper detrimental threshold for ecological health.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the upper detrimental threshold of soil phosphorus in the Alpine and Subalpine Complex biome under livestock grazing and pasture, beyond which ecological harm occurs.

Justification:

Evidence shows native perennial grasses decline above 20 mg/kg Colwell P in moderate PBI soils, indicating a critical ecological boundary.

Sources (2)

Preview of Phosphorus nutrition of phosphorus-sensitive Australian native plants: threats to plant communities in a global biodiversity hotspot - PMC

Phosphorus nutrition of phosphorus-sensitive Australian native plants: threats to plant communities in a global biodiversity hotspot - PMC Journal

(PDF) Sensitivity of seedling growth to phosphorus supply in six tree ..., accessed May 15, 2025,

Preview of Soil nutrient critical limits | MBFP | More Beef from Pastures - MLA, accessed May 13, 2025,

Soil nutrient critical limits | MBFP | More Beef from Pastures - MLA, accessed May 13, 2025, GreyLiterature

Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ..., accessed July 17, 2025,

Supporting Sources (22)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 5. PHOSPHORUS (BASED ON QUINLAN ET AL. 2012) | Nutrient Management

5. PHOSPHORUS (BASED ON QUINLAN ET AL. 2012) | Nutrient Management

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

5. PHOSPHORUS (BASED ON QUINLAN ET AL. 2012) | Nutrient Management

Preview of Alpine meadow degradation decreases soil P availability by altering phoD-harbouring bacterial diversity - CSIRO Publishing

Alpine meadow degradation decreases soil P availability by altering phoD-harbouring bacterial diversity - CSIRO Publishing

Contextual Support Journal

Alpine meadow degradation decreases soil P availability by altering phoD-harbouring bacterial diversity - CSIRO Publishing

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

Preview of Balancing risk and reward with high phosphorus and nitrogen input costs

Balancing risk and reward with high phosphorus and nitrogen input costs

Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture—agroecology without politics? - Frontiers, accessed August 28, 2025

Preview of Biodiversity | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 2, 2025

Biodiversity | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 2, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Loss of terrestrial biodiversity in Australia: Magnitude, causation, and response - Charles Darwin University

Preview of Complex Forms of Soil Organic Phosphorus-A Major Component of Soil Phosphorus | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Complex Forms of Soil Organic Phosphorus-A Major Component of Soil Phosphorus | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Contextual Support

Complex Forms of Soil Organic Phosphorus-A Major Component of Soil Phosphorus | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Preview of Effects of grazing on alpine grassland soil available nutrients across the Tibetan Plateau

Effects of grazing on alpine grassland soil available nutrients across the Tibetan Plateau

Contextual Support Journal

Effects of grazing on alpine grassland soil available nutrients across the Tibetan Plateau

Preview of Full article: Micro Gondwana: soil and litter mesofauna in the subalpine and alpine of North-West Nelson, southern New Zealand - Taylor & Francis Online: Peer-reviewed Journals

Full article: Micro Gondwana: soil and litter mesofauna in the subalpine and alpine of North-West Nelson, southern New Zealand - Taylor & Francis Online: Peer-reviewed Journals

Contextual Support Journal

Full article: Micro Gondwana: soil and litter mesofauna in the subalpine and alpine of North-West Nelson, southern New Zealand - Taylor & Francis Online: Peer-reviewed Journals

Preview of Grazing Intensity Accelerates Surface Soil C and N Cycling in Alpine Pastures as Revealed by Soil Genes and δ 15 N Ratio - MDPI, accessed May 13, 2025,

Grazing Intensity Accelerates Surface Soil C and N Cycling in Alpine Pastures as Revealed by Soil Genes and δ 15 N Ratio - MDPI, accessed May 13, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Grazing Intensity Accelerates Surface Soil C and N Cycling in Alpine Pastures as Revealed by Soil Genes and b4 15 N Ratio - MDPI

Preview of Grazing Intensity Modifies Soil Microbial Diversity and Their Co-Occurrence Networks in an Alpine Steppe, Central Tibet, accessed on June 5, 2025

Grazing Intensity Modifies Soil Microbial Diversity and Their Co-Occurrence Networks in an Alpine Steppe, Central Tibet, accessed on June 5, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

How does livestock graze management affect woodland soil health? - Frontiers, accessed July 29, 2025

Preview of Grazing-to-fencing increases alpine soil phosphorus availability by promoting phosphatase activity and regulating the phoD-harboring bacterial communities | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Grazing-to-fencing increases alpine soil phosphorus availability by promoting phosphatase activity and regulating the phoD-harboring bacterial communities | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

Grazing-to-fencing increases alpine soil phosphorus availability by promoting phosphatase activity and regulating the phoD-harboring bacterial communities | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Preview of Long-term phosphite application is detrimental to a low phosphorus banksia woodland community in the southwest of Western Australia - Murdoch University

Long-term phosphite application is detrimental to a low phosphorus banksia woodland community in the southwest of Western Australia - Murdoch University

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Long-term phosphite application is detrimental to a low phosphorus banksia woodland community in the southwest of Western Australia - Murdoch University

Preview of Phosphorus - WA | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed August 4, 2025

Phosphorus - WA | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed August 4, 2025

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Phosphorus - Tas | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au

Preview of Phosphorus Efficient Pastures | ASHEEP & BEEF

Phosphorus Efficient Pastures | ASHEEP & BEEF

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Phosphorus Efficient Pastures | ASHEEP & BEEF

Preview of Phosphorus for high rainfall clover pastures in Western Australia | Agriculture and Food

Phosphorus for high rainfall clover pastures in Western Australia | Agriculture and Food

Contextual Support

Agronomic soil tests can be used to estimate dissolved reactive phosphorus loss, accessed on May 31, 2025

Preview of Phosphorus requirements of tropical grazing systems: The northern Australian experience | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Phosphorus requirements of tropical grazing systems: The northern Australian experience | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

Soil phosphorus–crop response calibration relationships and criteria ..., accessed August 28, 2025

Preview of The composition of organic phosphorus in soils of the Snowy Mountains region of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing

The composition of organic phosphorus in soils of the Snowy Mountains region of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing

Contextual Support Journal

The composition of organic phosphorus in soils of the Snowy Mountains region of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing

Preview of The development and application of functions describing pasture yield responses to phosphorus, potassium and sulfur in Australia using meta-data analysis and derived soil-test calibration relationships - BioOne Complete

The development and application of functions describing pasture yield responses to phosphorus, potassium and sulfur in Australia using meta-data analysis and derived soil-test calibration relationships - BioOne Complete

Contextual Support Journal

The development and application of functions describing pasture yield responses to phosphorus, potassium and sulfur in Australia using meta-data analysis and derived soil-test calibration relationships - BioOne Complete

Preview of The Role of Phosphorus Limitation in Shaping Soil Bacterial Communities and Their Metabolic Capabilities | mBio - ASM Journals

The Role of Phosphorus Limitation in Shaping Soil Bacterial Communities and Their Metabolic Capabilities | mBio - ASM Journals

Contextual Support

The Role of Phosphorus Limitation in Shaping Soil Bacterial Communities and Their Metabolic Capabilities | mBio - ASM Journals

Preview of theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,

theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org

Preview of to ensure you are making money from superphosphate - Australian Wool Innovation

to ensure you are making money from superphosphate - Australian Wool Innovation

Contextual Support Journal

to ensure you are making money from phosphorus fertiliser - MLA

Preview of www.barrierreef.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,

www.barrierreef.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Potassium for high-performing pastures | Nutrient Advantage, accessed July 28, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 17 Mar 2026

Notes

Upper Detrimental Threshold: 20 mg/kg. Higher P levels risk loss of P-sensitive native species and ecosystem disturbances.