Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-TDG-AGR-SOC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

0.78 %

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: Point

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

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

Pasture/Wheat - Zero Tillage, stubble retained (Pa/W-ZT): 7.8 mg/g (0.78%) SOC.

Metric Definition:

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

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the soil organic carbon level measured at 0-10 cm depth under best-practice regenerative management in the Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands biome of Australia.

Justification:

Highest SOC level observed under ZT systems that included a pasture phase at the Walpeup site in the Mallee region.

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

Management system: Pasture/Wheat - Zero Tillage, stubble retained.

Related Benchmarks

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