Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)
Benchmark Value
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 6 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 5 guard(s) constrain the result.
Contributing Benchmarks
Evidence & Context
A substantial body of evidence indicates a critical lower threshold for ecosystem function at approximately 1.0% SOC.
Critical lower threshold of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) concentration below which ecosystem function is impaired.
Lower critical threshold for SOC below which ecosystem functions are significantly impaired.
Supported by multiple studies including a semi-arid ecosystem in Algeria and global grassland studies linking SOC loss to degradation.
Sources (1)
Is there a critical level of organic matter in the agricultural soils of temperate regions: A review | Request PDF - ResearchGate
View SourceSupporting Sources (1)
Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.
The relationship between soil organic carbon and soil surface characteristics in the semi-arid rangelands of southern Australia
View Source