Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-TGP-CON-SOC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 2.5 to 3 %
Optimal Range: 2.5 to 3
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.

Evidence & Context

The following table presents these texture-specific reference values for the 0-10 cm soil depth... Red Chromosol Clay-Loam / Loamy 2.5 - 3.0

Metric Definition:

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) is the primary measurable component of the broader Soil Organic Matter (SOM) pool, which encompasses all organic materials in the soil, from living organisms and fresh residues to highly decomposed humus.

Benchmark Definition:

Reference soil organic carbon values for the top 0-10 cm of soil in remnant grassy woodlands under conservation management, specific to Red Chromosol clay-loam and loamy soils.

Justification:

Benchmark values represent the mean SOC concentration in the top 0-10 cm of high-integrity remnant grassy woodlands, which serve as a proxy for the best available condition in a conservation context.

Sources (1)

Preview of How Much Carbon Can Soil Store | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au
How Much Carbon Can Soil Store | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au Government

How Much Carbon Can Soil Store | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 19, 2025

View Source

Supporting Sources (35)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands: A critical review of ...
(PDF) Soil carbon sequestration in rangelands: A critical review of ...
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment

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Preview of (PDF) Using active fractions of soil organic matter as indicators of ..., accessed July 19, 2025
(PDF) Using active fractions of soil organic matter as indicators of ..., accessed July 19, 2025
Contextual Support Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Using active fractions of soil organic matter as indicators of ...

View Source
Preview of A global meta-analysis of soil organic carbon in the Anthropocene - PMC, accessed August 11, 2025
A global meta-analysis of soil organic carbon in the Anthropocene - PMC, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

A global meta-analysis of soil organic carbon in the Anthropocene - PMC, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of Australian Government Department of the Environment. (2016). Approved Conservation Advice (including listing advice) for the Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands (EC 152).
Australian Government Department of the Environment. (2016). Approved Conservation Advice (including listing advice) for the Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands (EC 152).
Contextual Support Journal

Temperate Grasslands - Greening Australia, accessed August 11, 2025

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Preview of Baseline map of organic carbon in Australian soil to support national carbon accounting and monitoring under climate change - PubMed Central, accessed August 5, 2025,
Baseline map of organic carbon in Australian soil to support national carbon accounting and monitoring under climate change - PubMed Central, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Organic Matter and Carbon Sequestration

View Source
Preview of Carbon | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed on June 7, 2025,
Carbon | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed on June 7, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

CO₂ sink to source: Arid Australia's climate and rainfall driven tipping points

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Preview of Carbon storage in soil and vegetation in paired roadside sites in the box woodlands of eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025
Carbon storage in soil and vegetation in paired roadside sites in the box woodlands of eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Carbon storage in soil and vegetation in paired roadside sites in the box woodlands of eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025

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Preview of Carbon storage in the soils and vegetation of contrasting land uses in northern New South Wales, Australia
Carbon storage in the soils and vegetation of contrasting land uses in northern New South Wales, Australia
Contextual Support Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Drying temperature effects on bulk density and carbon density determination in soils of northern New South Wales

View Source
Preview of Changes in organic carbon to clay ratios in different soils and land uses in England and Wales over time
Changes in organic carbon to clay ratios in different soils and land uses in England and Wales over time
Contextual Support Journal

Changes in organic carbon to clay ratios in different soils and land uses in England and Wales over time

View Source
Preview of Distribution, nature and threats to soils of the Australian Alps: A review
Distribution, nature and threats to soils of the Australian Alps: A review
Contextual Support Journal

Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of Grassy Woodlands – Transformative Adaptation Research Alliance, accessed August 10, 2025,
Grassy Woodlands – Transformative Adaptation Research Alliance, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Plant responses to livestock grazing frequency in an Australian temperate grassland, accessed August 6, 2025

View Source
Preview of Important constraints on soil organic carbon formation efficiency in subtropical and tropical grasslands - Research, accessed August 11, 2025
Important constraints on soil organic carbon formation efficiency in subtropical and tropical grasslands - Research, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Opposing patterns of carbon and nitrogen stability in soil organic matter fractions compared to whole soil - CSIRO Research Publications Repository

View Source
Preview of Is there a critical level of organic matter in the agricultural soils of temperate regions: A review | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025
Is there a critical level of organic matter in the agricultural soils of temperate regions: A review | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Is there a critical level of organic matter in the agricultural soils of temperate regions: A review | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of Management of Grazed Landscapes to Increase Soil Carbon Stocks in Temperate, Dryland Grasslands - Frontiers, accessed August 11, 2025
Management of Grazed Landscapes to Increase Soil Carbon Stocks in Temperate, Dryland Grasslands - Frontiers, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Management of Grazed Landscapes to Increase Soil Carbon Stocks in Temperate, Dryland Grasslands - Frontiers, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed July 6, 2025,
Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Benefits and trade-offs of soil organic carbon sequestration - OAPEN Library

View Source
Preview of Murraylands and Riverland | Soil carbon - Landscape South Australia, accessed July 17, 2025
Murraylands and Riverland | Soil carbon - Landscape South Australia, accessed July 17, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Scoping Paper: Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration Potential for Agriculture in NSW, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland & Grassy Eucalypt Woodland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland & Grassy Eucalypt Woodland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. (2006). Woodland Remnants and Dryland Salinity: Impacts of dryland salinity on woodland remnants in the Southern Tablelands and South-West Slopes of New South Wales.

View Source
Preview of Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands - profile, accessed August 10, 2025
Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands - profile, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Editorial – the world's temperate grasslands: a beleaguered biome - Parks Journal, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands: a nationally protected ecological community - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands: a nationally protected ecological community - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern ... - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of Predicting and regulating soil carbon in a warmer world | TERN Australia, accessed August 28, 2025,
Predicting and regulating soil carbon in a warmer world | TERN Australia, accessed August 28, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Fact Sheets Soil Organic Carbon Storage in the Western Avon Basin - WA

View Source
Preview of Protecting Critically Endangered Grasslands | Victorian Auditor-General's Office, accessed August 10, 2025
Protecting Critically Endangered Grasslands | Victorian Auditor-General's Office, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Regulatory Framework Government

Protecting native grasses – ANU Sustainable Farms, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 4, 2025,
Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Australian Journal of Botany - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil carbon changes after establishing woodland and agroforestry trees in a grazed pasture, accessed August 11, 2025
Soil carbon changes after establishing woodland and agroforestry trees in a grazed pasture, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Soil carbon changes after establishing woodland and agroforestry trees in a grazed pasture, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil Carbon Saturation: What Do We Really Know? - PMC - PubMed Central
Soil Carbon Saturation: What Do We Really Know? - PMC - PubMed Central
Contextual Support Meta Analysis Journal

Soil Carbon Saturation: What Do We Really Know? - PMC - PubMed Central

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 GreyLiterature

Coexistence of shrubs and grass in a semi-arid landscape: a case study of mulga (Acacia aneura, Mimosaceae) shrublands embedded in fire-prone spinifex (Triodia pungens, Poaceae) hummock grasslands - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany

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Preview of Soil Carbon Snapshot - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 5, 2025,
Soil Carbon Snapshot - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Carbon Snapshot - Agriculture Victoria

View Source
Preview of Southeast Australia temperate savanna - Wikipedia, accessed August 4, 2025
Southeast Australia temperate savanna - Wikipedia, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Southeast Australia temperate savanna - Wikipedia

View Source
Preview of SWIFFT Video conference notes 14 November 2007 Native Grassland Conservation, accessed August 11, 2025
SWIFFT Video conference notes 14 November 2007 Native Grassland Conservation, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

SWIFFT Video conference notes 14 November 2007 Native Grassland Conservation, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of Temperate Grasslands - Greening Australia, accessed August 4, 2025
Temperate Grasslands - Greening Australia, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Plant nutrients in the soil - NSW Department of Primary Industries

View Source
Preview of The effect of grazing management and legumes on soil organic carbon stocks in pastoral systems relevant to the Australian Carbon - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 11, 2025
The effect of grazing management and legumes on soil organic carbon stocks in pastoral systems relevant to the Australian Carbon - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Celebrating the Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia's half-birthday ...

View Source
Preview of The grassland carbon cycle: Mechanisms, responses to global changes, and potential contribution to carbon neutrality - PMC, accessed August 11, 2025
The grassland carbon cycle: Mechanisms, responses to global changes, and potential contribution to carbon neutrality - PMC, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

The grassland carbon cycle: Mechanisms, responses to global changes, and potential contribution to carbon neutrality - PMC, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of The importance of travelling stock reserves for maintaining high-quality threatened temperate woodlands - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed August 12, 2025,
The importance of travelling stock reserves for maintaining high-quality threatened temperate woodlands - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Methodology Source Journal

Approved Conservation Advice for the White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of Western Grassland Reserve, accessed May 12, 2025
Western Grassland Reserve, accessed May 12, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,
Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of www.welthungerhilfe.org, accessed August 11, 2025
www.welthungerhilfe.org, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

www.welthungerhilfe.org, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Vegetation Grassland
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 26 May 2026

Notes

SOC storage potential is strongly controlled by soil type. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-CON-SOC family.

— % High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target · Grassland
OptimalRange Active v1
— % High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target · Grassland
OptimalRange Active v1