Soil Nitrogen

AUS-AKW-AGR-SON General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 1000 to 2000 mg/kg
Optimal Range: 1000 to 2000
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 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

An Optimal Range for balancing productivity and ecological health is proposed as 1000–2000 mg/kg.

Metric Definition:

Total Soil Nitrogen (0-10 cm depth)

Benchmark Definition:

This range represents the optimal total soil nitrogen concentration in the top 10 cm of soil for balancing productivity and ecological health in Australia's Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands agricultural cropping systems.

Justification:

This range maximizes biological N cycling while minimizing environmental loss risks.

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 HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Operating within this range indicates a resilient system with a healthy nitrogen cycle, capable of sustaining productivity with minimal negative environmental externalities.

Related Benchmarks

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

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