Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-TGP-CON-SOC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

0.077 ratio

Thresholds: Lower: 0.077, Upper: —

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: LowerThreshold

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

A Soil Organic Carbon to clay ratio (SOC/clay) below 1/13 (<0.077) indicates a degraded state with compromised ecological function.

Metric Definition:

Soil Organic Carbon to clay ratio (SOC/clay)

Benchmark Definition:

Lower critical threshold for Soil Organic Carbon to clay ratio indicating degraded soil structure and compromised ecological function in temperate grassy woodlands.

Justification:

This threshold is based on an analysis of thousands of temperate soils linking SOC/clay ratio to soil structural quality.

Sources (1)

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

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

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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

Contextual Support 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

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Retired
Version 1
Effective From 17 Mar 2026
Effective To 20 Mar 2026

Notes

Below this ratio, soils are classified as having degraded structure and compromised ecological function.

Related Benchmarks

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