Soil Phosphorus

AUS-ASC-LVG-SOP General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 25 to 40 mg/kg
Optimal Range: 25 to 40
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

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 OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.

Evidence & Context

Improved Exotic Pasture: 25 – 40 (mg/kg) - Agronomic optimum (ryegrass/clover)

Metric Definition:

Colwell P

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the agronomic optimum range of soil phosphorus for ryegrass and clover productivity in improved exotic pastures within the Alpine and Subalpine Complex biome under livestock grazing and pasture land use.

Justification:

This range represents the high productivity zone for improved exotic pastures.

Sources (1)

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

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

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Supporting Sources (55)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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(PDF) A financial analysis of lime application in a long-term agronomic experiment on the south-western slopes of New South Wales - ResearchGate, accessed May 7, 2026
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) A financial analysis of lime application in a long-term agronomic experiment on the south-western slopes of New South Wales - ResearchGate, accessed May 7, 2026

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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

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A practical guide to measuring functional indicators and traits in biocrusts - Arid Ecology Lab, accessed May 7, 2026
Contextual Support Methodology Source Journal

A practical guide to measuring functional indicators and traits in biocrusts - Arid Ecology Lab, accessed May 7, 2026

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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

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Preview of An agronomic test to manage phosphorus environmental risk from pastures with good grazing management - ResearchGate
An agronomic test to manage phosphorus environmental risk from pastures with good grazing management - ResearchGate
Direct Evidence

An agronomic test to manage phosphorus environmental risk from pastures with good grazing management - ResearchGate

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Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed May 11, 2025
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Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient‐depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - Arid Ecology Lab, accessed August 3, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Soil Inorganic Carbon, the Other and Equally Important Soil Carbon Pool: Distribution, Controlling Factors, and the Impact of C

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Balancing risk and reward with high phosphorus and nitrogen input costs
Contextual Support Journal

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

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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

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Preview of Complex Forms of Soil Organic Phosphorus–A Major Component of Soil Phosphorus | Environmental Science & Technology - ACS Publications
Complex Forms of Soil Organic Phosphorus–A Major Component of Soil Phosphorus | Environmental Science & Technology - ACS Publications
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Complex Forms of Soil Organic Phosphorus–A Major Component of Soil Phosphorus | Environmental Science & Technology - ACS Publications, accessed May 7, 2026

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Distribution of Phosphorus Forms Along the Altitude Gradient in the Soil of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau and the Influencing Factors - MDPI
Contextual Support Journal

Distribution of Phosphorus Forms Along the Altitude Gradient in the Soil of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau and the Influencing Factors - MDPI

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Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 23, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Microbial Composition and phoD Gene Abundance Are Sensitive to Phosphorus Level in a Long-Term Wheat-Maize Crop System - Frontiers, accessed May 7, 2026

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

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Extending the boundaries of legume adaptation through better soil management - MLA, accessed May 7, 2026
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Extending the boundaries of legume adaptation through better soil management - MLA, accessed May 7, 2026

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Final report - MLA, accessed July 19, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

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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

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Full text of "The victorian naturalist" - Internet Archive, accessed May 10, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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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 δ 15 N Ratio - MDPI, accessed May 10, 2026

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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

Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services, accessed May 10, 2026

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

Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review - ResearchGate, accessed May 10, 2026

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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

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Preview of Increasing the Size of the Microbial Biomass Altered Bacterial Community Structure which Enhances Plant Phosphorus Uptake | PLOS One - Research journals
Increasing the Size of the Microbial Biomass Altered Bacterial Community Structure which Enhances Plant Phosphorus Uptake | PLOS One - Research journals
Contextual Support Journal

Increasing the Size of the Microbial Biomass Altered Bacterial Community Structure which Enhances Plant Phosphorus Uptake | PLOS One - Research journals, accessed May 7, 2026

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Preview of Indicative Soil Phosphorus Report | LongPaddock | Queensland Government
Indicative Soil Phosphorus Report | LongPaddock | Queensland Government
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Government

Indicative Soil Phosphorus Report | LongPaddock | Queensland Government

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Preview of Influence of sample depth on extractable nutrient concentrations, pH and the phosphorus buffering index of pasture soils in south-eastern Australia - ResearchGate
Influence of sample depth on extractable nutrient concentrations, pH and the phosphorus buffering index of pasture soils in south-eastern Australia - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Methodology Source GreyLiterature

Influence of sample depth on extractable nutrient concentrations, pH and the phosphorus buffering index of pasture soils in south-eastern Australia - ResearchGate

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Integrated model–data fusion approach to measuring habitat condition for ecological integrity reporting - Environment and Heritage
Direct Evidence Journal

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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

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Modeling biodiversity benchmarks in variable environments - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Modeling biodiversity benchmarks in variable environments - ResearchGate

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Pasture growth | MLA, accessed August 28, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

The impact of cattle grazing and treading on soil properties and the transport of phosphorus, sediment and E. coli in surface runoff from grazed pasture - Taylor & Francis

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Preview of Pedogenesis, soil mass balance, phosphorus dynamics and vegetation communities across a Holocene soil chronosequence in a super-humid climate, South Westland, New Zealand | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Pedogenesis, soil mass balance, phosphorus dynamics and vegetation communities across a Holocene soil chronosequence in a super-humid climate, South Westland, New Zealand | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Pedogenesis, soil mass balance, phosphorus dynamics and vegetation communities across a Holocene soil chronosequence in a super-humid climate, South Westland, New Zealand | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 7, 2026

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

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Preview of Phosphorus Efficient Pastures | ASHEEP & BEEF
Phosphorus Efficient Pastures | ASHEEP & BEEF
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Phosphorus Efficient Pastures | ASHEEP & BEEF

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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,

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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
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

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Preview of Phosphorus nutrition of phosphorus-sensitive Australian native plants: threats to plant communities in a global biodiversity hotspot - the UWA Profiles and Research Repository
Phosphorus nutrition of phosphorus-sensitive Australian native plants: threats to plant communities in a global biodiversity hotspot - the UWA Profiles and Research Repository
Contextual Support Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Phosphorus nutrition of phosphorus-sensitive Australian native plants: threats to plant communities in a global biodiversity hotspot - the UWA Profiles and Research Repository, accessed May 7, 2026

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Phosphorus Nutrition of Proteaceae in Severely Phosphorus-Impoverished Soils: Are There Lessons To Be Learned for Future Crops? - PubMed Central, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

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

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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

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Preview of Plant-Available Phosphorus in Highly Concentrated Fertilizer Bands: Effects of Soil Type, Phosphorus Form, and Coapplied Potassium | Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry - ACS Publications
Plant-Available Phosphorus in Highly Concentrated Fertilizer Bands: Effects of Soil Type, Phosphorus Form, and Coapplied Potassium | Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry - ACS Publications
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Methodology Source Journal

Plant-Available Phosphorus in Highly Concentrated Fertilizer Bands: Effects of Soil Type, Phosphorus Form, and Coapplied Potassium | Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry - ACS Publications, accessed May 7, 2026

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Preview of Ptilotus polystachyus and Cichorium intybus response to phosphorus
Ptilotus polystachyus and Cichorium intybus response to phosphorus
Direct Evidence Journal

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

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Preview of Putting the P in Ptilotus: a phosphorus-accumulating herb native to Australia - PMC
Putting the P in Ptilotus: a phosphorus-accumulating herb native to Australia - PMC
Contextual Support Journal

Putting the P in Ptilotus: a phosphorus-accumulating herb native to Australia - PMC

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Preview of Sheep camping influences soil properties and pasture production in an acidic soil of New South Wales, Australia - ResearchGate
Sheep camping influences soil properties and pasture production in an acidic soil of New South Wales, Australia - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

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Preview of Snowy Strategic Activation Precinct - NSW Planning Portal
Snowy Strategic Activation Precinct - NSW Planning Portal
Contextual Support Journal

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Preview of Soil Information Transfer and Evaluation System (SITES) – Database design and exchange protocols Version 2.0 - Enviro Data SA
Soil Information Transfer and Evaluation System (SITES) – Database design and exchange protocols Version 2.0 - Enviro Data SA
Methodology Source Journal

Soil Information Transfer and Evaluation System (SITES) – Database design and exchange protocols Version 2.0 - Enviro Data SA

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Preview of Soil Phosphorus — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index
Soil Phosphorus — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index
Direct Evidence Journal

Soil Phosphorus — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

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Preview of Soil phosphorus crisis in the Tibetan alpine permafrost region - PMC
Soil phosphorus crisis in the Tibetan alpine permafrost region - PMC
Contextual Support Journal

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Preview of Sources of phosphorus in two subcatchments of the Manawatu River, and discussion of mitigation measures to reduce the phosphorus load - Taylor & Francis
Sources of phosphorus in two subcatchments of the Manawatu River, and discussion of mitigation measures to reduce the phosphorus load - Taylor & Francis
Direct Evidence Journal

Sources of phosphorus in two subcatchments of the Manawatu River, and discussion of mitigation measures to reduce the phosphorus load - Taylor & Francis

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The composition of organic phosphorus in soils ... - Semantic Scholar
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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

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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

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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

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to ensure you are making money from superphosphate - Australian Wool Innovation
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Preview of Too much of a good thing: phosphorus over-fertilisation in rehabilitated landscapes of high biodiversity value
Too much of a good thing: phosphorus over-fertilisation in rehabilitated landscapes of high biodiversity value
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