Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-TMS-AGR-SWI General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

10 mm/hr

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 200

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: MinimumOnly

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 Considerations for an Upper Detrimental Threshold: SWIR > 200-250 mm/hr, particularly on sandy soils or when coupled with high nutrient inputs and high water load (intense rain/irrigation).

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 indicates a potential upper detrimental threshold for soil water infiltration rate above which nutrient leaching risk increases, especially on sandy soils or with high nutrient and water inputs.

Justification:

At such extremely high sustained rates, especially on sandy soils or with high nutrient inputs and water load, the risk of significant nutrient leaching beyond the root zone increases.

Sources (1)

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

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

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

View Source

Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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

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

Contextual Support Journal

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

This is a qualitative estimate due to lack of specific quantitative data directly linking SWIR values to detrimental leaching outcomes in this context. ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:15 UTC: LowerThreshold 200 → (check: MinAboveOptimalHigh, rationale: Clearing LowerThreshold as the threshold is correctly represented as an upper limit in UpperThreshold.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:15 UTC: UpperThreshold → 200 (check: MinAboveOptimalHigh, rationale: The Notes indicate that SWIR values above 200 mm/hr are detrimental, so this threshold should be an upper limit. Moving the value from LowerThreshold to UpperThreshold will auto-correct the form from MinimumOnly to MaximumOnly, resolving the contradiction without duplicating forms.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:15 UTC: UpperThreshold → 200 (check: MinAboveMax, rationale: The Notes indicate that rates above 200 mm/hr are detrimental, so this threshold is an upper ceiling and should be a MaximumOnly with UpperThreshold=200. Moving the value from LowerThreshold to UpperThreshold will auto-correct the form.) ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-24 20:13 UTC: BenchmarkValue 200 → 10 (check: MinAboveMax, rationale: Swapping BenchmarkValue to 10 aligns with the Notes indicating that rates below 10 mm/hr indicate degradation and should be a lower threshold (MinimumOnly).)

Related Benchmarks

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