Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-TDG-LVG-SOC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

2.65 %

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 13 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 12 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

The reference value of 2.65% SOC in the 0-10cm soil layer is derived from the Winona property in New South Wales, as documented in a comprehensive case study by Soils For Life, based on soil analyses conducted in September 2010.

Metric Definition:

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) in the 0-10 cm soil layer under best-practice sustainable or regenerative livestock grazing in Australian Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands.

Benchmark Definition:

Reference value representing the best available condition of nature achievable under long-term regenerative livestock grazing management in Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands.

Justification:

Derived from a well-documented case study at Winona property, exemplifying exceptional ecological outcomes under long-term regenerative agricultural practices.

Sources (1)

Pasture cropping on Winona - A Soils For Life case study GreyLiterature

Pasture cropping on Winona - A Soils For Life case study

View Source

Supporting Sources (3)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

(PDF) Soil organic carbon stocks in saline and sodic landscapes

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Soil organic carbon stocks in saline and sodic landscapes

View Source

Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Managing grazing to increase ground cover in rangelands: using remote sensing to detect change | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source

Preview of Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands: A critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands: A critical review of the impacts of major management strategies - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

final repport - Department of Primary Industries, Queensland, accessed July 17, 2025,

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 17 Mar 2026

Notes

Represents a substantial increase from a baseline of ~1% SOC prior to regenerative practices; moderate confidence due to lack of peer-reviewed validation; highlights importance of integrated, long-term regenerative systems. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TDG-LVG-SOC family.