Soil Nitrogen

AUS-AKW-AGR-SON General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

2500 mg/kg

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 2500

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: UpperThreshold

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 Upper Detrimental Threshold is identified not as a point of soil toxicity, but as a level (estimated above 2500 mg/kg) where environmental loss risks and negative agronomic impacts become unacceptably high.

Metric Definition:

Total Soil Nitrogen (0-10 cm depth)

Benchmark Definition:

This threshold marks the upper detrimental level of total soil nitrogen in the top 10 cm of soil above which environmental loss risks and negative agronomic impacts become unacceptably high in Australia's Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands agricultural cropping systems.

Justification:

This level signifies a state of nutrient loading inconsistent with high ecological health due to environmental loss risks and negative agronomic impacts.

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