Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-TMS-AGR-SWI General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

200 mm/hr

Thresholds: Lower: 10, Upper: —

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: MaximumOnly

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 18 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 17 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

Proposed Lower Critical Threshold: < 10 mm/hr.

Metric Definition:

Soil Water Infiltration Rate (SWIR) is the velocity at which water enters the soil matrix, commonly expressed in mm/hr.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines a maximum soil water infiltration rate threshold below which soil infiltration is severely impaired, indicating severe soil degradation and risk of runoff and erosion.

Justification:

SWIR values below 10 mm/hr are highly likely to generate substantial surface runoff and initiate significant soil erosion, associated with severe soil structural degradation.

Sources (1)

Preview of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. (n.d.). Soil Quality Indicators: Infiltration.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. (n.d.). Soil Quality Indicators: Infiltration. Journal

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

View Source

Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Nutrient Loss and Water Quality - Oklahoma State University Extension, accessed July 6, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Nutrient Loss and Water Quality - Oklahoma State University Extension, accessed July 16, 2025

View Source

The effect of soil and pasture attributes on ... - CSIRO Publishing

Direct Evidence Journal

Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health Technical Reference 1734-6 version 5 - Bureau of Land Management, accessed July 18, 2025,

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 19 Mar 2026

Notes

Rates below this indicate severe soil degradation (compaction, surface sealing), leading to excessive runoff, soil erosion, poor soil aeration, and insufficient water for plant growth, especially critical under intense monsoonal rainfall. ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:15 UTC: UpperThreshold 10 → (check: MinAboveMax, rationale: Clearing UpperThreshold as the threshold moves to LowerThreshold.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:15 UTC: LowerThreshold → 10 (check: MinAboveMax, rationale: The Notes indicate that rates below 10 mm/hr indicate degradation, so this threshold is a lower floor and should be a MinimumOnly with LowerThreshold=10. Moving the value from UpperThreshold to LowerThreshold will auto-correct the form.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:15 UTC: UpperThreshold 10 → (check: MaxBelowOptimalLow, rationale: Clearing UpperThreshold after moving the threshold to LowerThreshold to avoid duplication and fix the contradiction.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:15 UTC: LowerThreshold → 10 (check: MaxBelowOptimalLow, rationale: The Notes and EvidenceStatement indicate this threshold is a lower limit (rates below 10 mm/hr indicate degradation). Moving the value from UpperThreshold to LowerThreshold will auto-correct the form from MaximumOnly to MinimumOnly, resolving the contradiction.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-24 20:13 UTC: BenchmarkValue 10 → 200 (check: MinAboveMax, rationale: Swapping BenchmarkValue to 200 aligns with the Notes indicating that rates above 200 mm/hr are detrimental and should be an upper threshold (MaximumOnly).)

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMS-AGR-SWI family.