Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TMI-AGR-SEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 0.2 to 0.8 dS/m

Optimal Range: 0.2 to 0.8

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 24 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 23 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

An optimal EC range of 0.2–0.8 dS/m is proposed. The lower limit of 0.2 dS/m provides a safe margin above the critical threshold for nutrient deficiency (0.15 dS/m), indicating sufficient soluble nutrients are present. The upper limit of 0.8 dS/m aligns with the transition from 'Medium' to 'High' in the general CSIRO classification.

Metric Definition:

Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC) range indicating optimal nutrient availability and minimal salinity stress for agricultural soils.

Benchmark Definition:

Optimal functional range of soil EC for sustainable agricultural production balancing nutrient availability and salinity risk.

Justification:

Derived from synthesis of natural baseline and functional thresholds from proxy agricultural systems, supported by CSIRO soil classification.

Sources (2)

Characteristics of Coral Cay Soils at Coringa-Herald Coral Sea Islands - ResearchGate Journal

Characteristics of Coral Cay Soils at Coringa-Herald Coral Sea Islands - ResearchGate

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Soil Analysis Methods and Results Interpretation ... - CSIRO Research Journal

Soil Analysis Methods and Results Interpretation ... - CSIRO Research

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Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Salinity and mulching in banana production - Yara Australia

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Salinity and mulching in banana production - Yara Australia

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To evaluate the values of electrical conductivity and growth parameters of apple saplings in nursery fields - CiteSeerX

Contextual Support

To evaluate the values of electrical conductivity and growth parameters of apple saplings in nursery fields - CiteSeerX

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Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 19 Mar 2026

Notes

Represents a functional window for high environmental health in agricultural soils of the biome.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMI-AGR-SEC family.