Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-TDG-AGR-SOC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 0.78 to 0.99 %

Optimal Range: 0.78 to 0.99

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

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary OptimalRange Guard Point Guard

Evidence & Context

The selected reference range for SOC is 7.8 to 9.9 mg/g (equivalent to 0.78% to 0.99% SOC).

Metric Definition:

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) is a critical component of soil health and overall ecosystem function.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the optimal range of soil organic carbon achievable under best-practice sustainable or regenerative agricultural crop production systems in the Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands biome of Australia.

Justification:

Derived from two distinct best-practice systems reported in Chan et al. (2015): the Pasture/Wheat rotation under Zero Tillage with stubble retention in the Mallee region (Calcarosol soil) and the Canola/Wheat/Peas rotation under Zero Tillage with retained standing stubble in the Wimmera region (Sodosol soil).

Sources (1)

Nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen balance in Australian farmlands - Agronomy Australia Proceedings, accessed May 11, 2025 GreyLiterature

Nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen balance in Australian farmlands - Agronomy Australia Proceedings, accessed May 11, 2025

View Source

Supporting Sources (9)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Buffel grass in Queensland's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 13, 2025

View Source

Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO, 2005), The Impact of Tillage on Changes in Soil Carbon ... - DCCEEW

Contextual Support Journal

The Impact of Tillage on Changes in Soil Carbon ... - DCCEEW, accessed May 9, 2025

View Source

Preview of Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands: a nationally protected ecological community - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands: a nationally protected ecological community - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern ... - DCCEEW

View Source

Regenerative Agriculture - a literature review on the practices and mechanisms used to improve soil health

Contextual Support Government

Regenerative Agriculture - a literature review on the practices and mechanisms used to improve soil health

View Source

Regenerative Agriculture - a literature review on the practices and mechanisms used to improve soil health - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

Regenerative Agriculture Program restoring soil pH case study: Macdonald, Whites Flat/Koppio

View Source

Regenerative Agriculture - a literature review on the practices and mechanisms used to improve soil health, accessed May 9, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Regenerative Agriculture - a literature review on the practices and mechanisms used to improve soil health, accessed May 9, 2025

View Source

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support Methodology Source Journal

Regenerative agriculture is key to dry season preparation - Soils For Life, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source

Preview of Relationship between environmental and land-use variables on soil carbon levels at the regional scale in central New South Wales, Australia - CSIRO Publishing

Relationship between environmental and land-use variables on soil carbon levels at the regional scale in central New South Wales, Australia - CSIRO Publishing

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Relationship between environmental and land-use variables on soil carbon levels at the regional scale in central New South Wales, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 9, 2025

View Source

Soil carbon sequestration in cool-temperate dryland pastures: mechanisms and management options - ResearchGate, accessed May 9, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed May 9, 2025

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 26 May 2026

Notes

The range acknowledges variability due to soil type and specific regenerative rotation choices within the target biome.

Related Benchmarks

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