Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-AKW-AGR-SEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

2 dS/m
Direction: Lower 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. The scoring engine uses 24 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 23 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

Any system that consistently exhibits an ECe​ above 2.0 dS/m should be considered to be under stress and moving away from an optimal state.

Metric Definition:

Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC) measured as the saturated paste extract (ECe​)

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark marks the critical soil electrical conductivity (EC) threshold above which soils are considered to be under stress and moving away from optimal health in the Arid Karstic Woodlands biome under agricultural crop production.

Justification:

This value serves as a critical upper warning limit, indicating that salt inputs are exceeding the capacity of the system to leach them, and that a negative trajectory towards salinization has begun.

Sources (1)

Preview of Soil Electrical Conductivity - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed May 16, 2025,
Soil Electrical Conductivity - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed May 16, 2025, Journal

USDA 12

View Source

Supporting Sources (22)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Soil processes affecting crop production in salt-affected soils - ResearchGate
(PDF) Soil processes affecting crop production in salt-affected soils - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Soil processes affecting crop production in salt-affected soils - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Across The Nullarbor…….Western Australia at last! - Bob's Big Idea - WordPress.com, accessed July 23, 2025
Across The Nullarbor…….Western Australia at last! - Bob's Big Idea - WordPress.com, accessed July 23, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Across The Nullarbor…….Western Australia at last! - Bob's Big Idea - WordPress.com

View Source
Preview of Approved Conservation Advice (including listing advice) for the Eucalypt Woodlands of the Western Australian Wheatbelt, accessed July 23, 2025
Approved Conservation Advice (including listing advice) for the Eucalypt Woodlands of the Western Australian Wheatbelt, accessed July 23, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Eyre Peninsula Farming Systems Summary 2022 - Department of Primary Industries and Regions

View Source
Preview of Continuous cropping of a Calcarosol in a low-rainfall environment: effects of rotations and nitrogen fertiliser
Continuous cropping of a Calcarosol in a low-rainfall environment: effects of rotations and nitrogen fertiliser
Direct Evidence

Continuous cropping of a Calcarosol in a low-rainfall environment: effects of rotations and nitrogen fertiliser

View Source
Preview of Cutting hay at Nullarbor cattle station | Farm Weekly - video Dailymotion
Cutting hay at Nullarbor cattle station | Farm Weekly - video Dailymotion
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Eyre Peninsula farming systems summaries - Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia - PIRSA

View Source
Preview of Eyre Peninsula Farming Systems Summary 2023 - Department of Primary Industries and Regions
Eyre Peninsula Farming Systems Summary 2023 - Department of Primary Industries and Regions
Contextual Support Journal

Find out the Different Types of Soil in Australia - Kelly Tillage AUS, accessed July 7, 2025

View Source
Preview of Eyre Peninsula Farming Systems Summary 2024 - PIRSA
Eyre Peninsula Farming Systems Summary 2024 - PIRSA
Contextual Support Journal

Eyre Peninsula Farming Systems Summary 2024 - PIRSA

View Source
Preview of Eyre Peninsula Regional Drought Resilience Plan
Eyre Peninsula Regional Drought Resilience Plan
Contextual Support

Eyre Peninsula Regional Drought Resilience Plan

View Source
Preview of Full article: Estimating the electrical conductivity of a saturated soil paste extract (ECe) from 1:1(EC1:1), 1:2(EC1:2) and 1:5(EC1:5) soil:water suspension ratios, in calcareous soils from the Mediterranean Islands of Malta - Taylor & Francis Online
Full article: Estimating the electrical conductivity of a saturated soil paste extract (ECe) from 1:1(EC1:1), 1:2(EC1:2) and 1:5(EC1:5) soil:water suspension ratios, in calcareous soils from the Mediterranean Islands of Malta - Taylor & Francis Online
Methodology Source GreyLiterature

Full article: Estimating the electrical conductivity of a saturated soil paste extract (ECe) from 1:1(EC1:1), 1:2(EC1:2) and 1:5(EC1:5) soil:water suspension ratios, in calcareous soils from the Mediterranean Islands of Malta - Taylor & Francis Online

View Source
Preview of Karst | Geoscience Australia
Karst | Geoscience Australia
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Karst | Geoscience Australia

View Source
Preview of Karst wetlands - WetlandInfo, accessed July 26, 2025,
Karst wetlands - WetlandInfo, accessed July 26, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Karst wetlands - WetlandInfo, accessed July 26, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025
Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Soil potassium—crop response calibration relationships and ..., accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor Karst - The Western Australian Speleological Group, accessed July 26, 2025,
Nullarbor Karst - The Western Australian Speleological Group, accessed July 26, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The Nullarbor deserves better protection - La Trobe University, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of Regenerative Agriculture - SOUTHERN SOILS
Regenerative Agriculture - SOUTHERN SOILS
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative Agriculture - SOUTHERN SOILS

View Source
Preview of Research on Soil Management and Conservation - MDPI
Research on Soil Management and Conservation - MDPI
Contextual Support Journal

Salinity Tolerance in Wheat: Mechanisms and Breeding Approaches - MDPI

View Source
Preview of Salinity tolerance in wheat: rethinking the targets | Journal of Experimental Botany
Salinity tolerance in wheat: rethinking the targets | Journal of Experimental Botany
Contextual Support

Salinity tolerance in wheat: rethinking the targets | Journal of Experimental Botany

View Source
Preview of Soil - RegenWA
Soil - RegenWA
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil - RegenWA

View Source
Preview of Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture - MLA, accessed August 5, 2025,
Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture - MLA, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Spatial distribution of soil microbial activity and soil properties ..., accessed August 13, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil Constraints in an Arid Environment—Challenges, Prospects, and Implications - MDPI, accessed July 6, 2025,
Soil Constraints in an Arid Environment—Challenges, Prospects, and Implications - MDPI, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil pH | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of The impact, identification and management of dispersive soils in rainfed cropping systems - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland, accessed July 6, 2025,
The impact, identification and management of dispersive soils in rainfed cropping systems - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Cover cropping impacts on soil water and carbon in dryland ...

View Source
Preview of What are some possible explanations for the lack of vegetation on the Nullarbor Plain of Western Australia? - Quora, accessed July 27, 2025
What are some possible explanations for the lack of vegetation on the Nullarbor Plain of Western Australia? - Quora, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

What are some possible explanations for the lack of vegetation on the Nullarbor Plain of Western Australia? - Quora, accessed July 22, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Superseded
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 19 Mar 2026
  • Effective To 19 Mar 2026

Notes

The classification system includes a transitional category of "very slightly saline" for soils with an ECe​ between 2.0 and 4.0 dS/m.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AKW-AGR-SEC family.

0.38 dS/m Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Pristine Reference
MinimumOnly Active v2
— dS/m Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
4 dS/m Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Pristine Reference
MaximumOnly Active v1