Soil Nitrogen

AUS-AKW-AGR-SON General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

600 mg/kg
Thresholds: Lower: 600, Upper: —
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: LowerThreshold

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 10 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 9 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary OptimalRange Guard Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

A level of 600 mg/kg is proposed as the lower critical threshold.

Metric Definition:

Total Soil Nitrogen (0-10 cm depth)

Benchmark Definition:

This threshold marks the lower critical level of total soil nitrogen in the top 10 cm of soil below which soil function is severely compromised in Australia's Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands agricultural cropping systems.

Justification:

This value aligns with the lower end of the natural baseline range and is substantially below what is considered functional for cropping.

Sources (1)

Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia; Soil nitrogen availability in the cereal zone of South Australia. I. Soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and nitrogen mineralisation rates
Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia; Soil nitrogen availability in the cereal zone of South Australia. I. Soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and nitrogen mineralisation rates Government

Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Nitrogen (3" resolution) - Release 2

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of SoilQuality.org.au
SoilQuality.org.au
Contextual Support Government

SoilQuality.org.au

View Source

Context

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

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 19 Mar 2026

Notes

Soils at or below this level would require significant intervention and long-term restorative management to regain ecological health and productivity.

Related Benchmarks

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

1500 mg/kg Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Pristine Reference
Point Active v1
— mg/kg Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
2500 mg/kg Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Pristine Reference
UpperThreshold Active v1