Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-TGP-CON-SOC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 3.5 to 4 %
Optimal Range: 3.5 to 4
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: StratifiedVariant

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is StratifiedVariant, 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.

Evidence & Context

Benchmark values represent the mean SOC concentration in the top 0-10 cm of high-integrity remnant grassy woodlands, which serve as a proxy for the best available condition in a conservation context.

Metric Definition:

Mean Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) concentration in the top 0-10 cm soil layer

Benchmark Definition:

Mean Soil Organic Carbon concentration in the top 0-10 cm soil layer for clayey soils in temperate grassy woodlands, representing the best available condition in conservation areas.

Justification:

SOC storage potential is strongly controlled by soil type, and these values represent the best available condition in conservation grassy woodlands.

Sources (1)

Preview of Carbon storage in the soils and vegetation of contrasting land uses in northern New South Wales, Australia
Carbon storage in the soils and vegetation of contrasting land uses in northern New South Wales, Australia Journal

Comparison of grazed and cleared temperate grassy woodlands in eastern Australia: patterns in space and inferences in time - ResearchGate, accessed August 10, 2025,

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Changes in organic carbon to clay ratios in different soils and land uses in England and Wales over time
Changes in organic carbon to clay ratios in different soils and land uses in England and Wales over time
Contextual Support Journal

Changes in organic carbon to clay ratios in different soils and land uses in England and Wales over time

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Vegetation Woodland
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Values are stratified by soil texture due to its strong control on SOC storage potential. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation.

Related Benchmarks

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

— % High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target · Woodland
StratifiedVariant Active v1
0.077 ratio High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
LowerThreshold Retired v1