Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-AIF-CON-SOC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.12 %
Thresholds: Lower: 0.12, Upper: —
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: MinimumOnly

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

A critical lower threshold for SOC can be defined as the point below which essential ecosystem functions are significantly compromised, leading to a state of degradation. The mean SOC value of 0.12% on Simpson Desert dune crests serves as a functional lower limit.

Metric Definition:

Mean SOC (0-10 cm) for Dune Crest soils

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines a critical lower soil organic carbon threshold for dune crest soils, below which ecosystem functions are significantly impaired, indicating degradation in the arid floodplain biome.

Justification:

Represents the point below which essential ecosystem functions are significantly compromised, leading to a state of degradation.

Sources (1)

Preview of Soil organic carbon dust emission: a synthesis of recent Australian research
Soil organic carbon dust emission: a synthesis of recent Australian research

Soil organic carbon dust emission: a synthesis of recent Australian research

View Source

Supporting Sources (14)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Australian net (1950s-1990) soil organic carbon erosion ..., accessed July 21, 2025,
(PDF) Australian net (1950s-1990) soil organic carbon erosion ..., accessed July 21, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Knowledge Review - WaterConnect, accessed July 22, 2025,

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Preview of A COMMUNITY INFORMATION PAPER FOR THE QUEENSLAND ..., accessed July 21, 2025,
A COMMUNITY INFORMATION PAPER FOR THE QUEENSLAND ..., accessed July 21, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Mitchell Grass Downs, Northern Territory - ResearchGate, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Disturbance and resilience in riparian woodlands on the highly modified Upper Condamine floodplain - University of Southern Queensland Repository
Disturbance and resilience in riparian woodlands on the highly modified Upper Condamine floodplain - University of Southern Queensland Repository
Contextual Support

ssr200 - eriss research summary 2007–2008 - DCCEEW, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Disturbance and resilience in riparian woodlands on the highly modified Upper Condamine floodplain - University of Southern Queensland Repository, accessed July 21, 2025,
Disturbance and resilience in riparian woodlands on the highly modified Upper Condamine floodplain - University of Southern Queensland Repository, accessed July 21, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Disturbance and resilience in riparian woodlands on the highly modified Upper Condamine floodplain - University of Southern Queensland Repository, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Drivers of seedling establishment success in dryland restoration efforts - ResearchGate, accessed July 21, 2025,
Drivers of seedling establishment success in dryland restoration efforts - ResearchGate, accessed July 21, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Threshold Concepts and Their Use in Rangeland Management and Restoration: The Good, the Bad, and the Insidious | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Drone maps, healthy ecosystems and Traditional knowledge: CMLR updates - Sustainable Minerals Institute - The University of Queensland, accessed July 21, 2025,
Drone maps, healthy ecosystems and Traditional knowledge: CMLR updates - Sustainable Minerals Institute - The University of Queensland, accessed July 21, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Drone maps, healthy ecosystems and Traditional knowledge: CMLR updates - Sustainable Minerals Institute - The University of Queensland, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Enhancing Soil Health to Mitigate Soil Degradation - UNCCD, accessed July 21, 2025,
Enhancing Soil Health to Mitigate Soil Degradation - UNCCD, accessed July 21, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Enhancing Soil Health to Mitigate Soil Degradation - UNCCD, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of finalrepport, accessed July 21, 2025,
finalrepport, accessed July 21, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

finalrepport, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Geospatial technologies for land degradation assessment and management 9781315152325, 1315152320, 9781351638838, 1351638831, 9781351648363, 1351648365, 9781498749619, 1498749615 - DOKUMEN.PUB, accessed July 21, 2025,
Geospatial technologies for land degradation assessment and management 9781315152325, 1315152320, 9781351638838, 1351638831, 9781351648363, 1351648365, 9781498749619, 1498749615 - DOKUMEN.PUB, accessed July 21, 2025,
Methodology Source GreyLiterature

Geospatial technologies for land degradation assessment and management 9781315152325, 1315152320, 9781351638838, 1351638831, 9781351648363, 1351648365, 9781498749619, 1498749615 - DOKUMEN.PUB, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Long‐term livestock exclusion increases plant richness and reproductive capacity in arid woodlands - ResearchGate, accessed July 21, 2025,
Long‐term livestock exclusion increases plant richness and reproductive capacity in arid woodlands - ResearchGate, accessed July 21, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Mean total species richness in each treatment at each conservation... - ResearchGate, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Mitchell Grass Downs Planned Burn Guideline - Parks and forests, accessed July 21, 2025,
Mitchell Grass Downs Planned Burn Guideline - Parks and forests, accessed July 21, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Mitchell Grass Downs Planned Burn Guideline - Parks and forests, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Overlooking dynamics of reactive minerals in soil organic carbon sequestration, accessed July 21, 2025,
Overlooking dynamics of reactive minerals in soil organic carbon sequestration, accessed July 21, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Overlooking dynamics of reactive minerals in soil organic carbon sequestration, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Protected Areas: Buffering nature against climate change - PreventionWeb.net, accessed July 21, 2025,
Protected Areas: Buffering nature against climate change - PreventionWeb.net, accessed July 21, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Protected Areas: Buffering nature against climate change - PreventionWeb.net, accessed July 22, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil Health and Climate Change, accessed July 21, 2025,
Soil Health and Climate Change, accessed July 21, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Soil carbon - Department for Environment and Water, accessed August 28, 2025,

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 18 Mar 2026

Notes

Soils at or below this level have lost their capacity to resist wind and water erosion, a primary threat in these systems. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation.

Related Benchmarks

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

0.93 % Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference · Woodland
Point Active v1
0.54 % Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
Point Active v1
0.32 % Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
Point Active v1