Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-AIF-LVG-SOC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 1.5 to 4 %
Optimal Range: 1.5 to 4
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 13 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 12 guard(s) constrain the result.

Evidence & Context

An inferred optimal range for healthy, resilient floodplain grazing soils is 1.5% to 4.0% SOC.

Metric Definition:

Optimal range of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) for healthy and resilient floodplain grazing soils

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the optimal range of Soil Organic Carbon that supports a healthy, resilient, and productive grazing system in floodplain soils of this biome.

Justification:

This range signifies a system that is functioning well, is resilient to climatic stress, and is well above a state of degradation.

Sources (1)

Preview of Carbon storage value of native vegetation on a subhumid–semi-arid floodplain
Carbon storage value of native vegetation on a subhumid–semi-arid floodplain Journal

Carbon storage value of native vegetation on a subhumid–semi-arid floodplain

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Carbon storage in temperate and semi-arid Australian plant communities containing cotton
Carbon storage in temperate and semi-arid Australian plant communities containing cotton
Contextual Support Journal

Baseline map of organic carbon in Australian soil to support national carbon accounting and monitoring under climate change

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

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

Notes

The range is inferred based on data synthesized in this report.

Related Benchmarks

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