Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-TSR-LVG-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 1 to 5 mm/hr
Optimal Range: 1 to 5
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

Clay (non-cracking) 1 - 5 Moderate Represents the upper end of infiltration potential for fine-textured soils. Achieving rates >5 mm/hr in non-cracking clays is a strong indicator of exceptional soil structure and health. 4

Metric Definition:

Soil water infiltration rate, the rate at which water enters the soil surface, measured in mm/hr.

Benchmark Definition:

Rate at which water enters the soil surface, influenced by soil texture and structure.

Justification:

Represents the upper end of infiltration potential for fine-textured soils. Achieving rates >5 mm/hr in non-cracking clays is a strong indicator of exceptional soil structure and health.

Sources (1)

Preview of Soil health for vegetable production in Australia - Department of Primary Industries, Queensland, accessed July 18, 2025,
Soil health for vegetable production in Australia - Department of Primary Industries, Queensland, accessed July 18, 2025, Journal

Healthy soils and water infiltration in the paddock - Local Land ...

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Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Effects of soil degradation on infiltration rates in grazed semiarid rangelands of northeastern Patagonia, Argentina - project bedrock
Effects of soil degradation on infiltration rates in grazed semiarid rangelands of northeastern Patagonia, Argentina - project bedrock
Direct Evidence Journal

Effects of Grazing on Water Erosion, Compaction and Infiltration on Grasslands - MDPI

View Source
Preview of Nutrient surpluses in Australian grazing systems: management practices, policy approaches, and difficult choices to improve water quality - ResearchGate
Nutrient surpluses in Australian grazing systems: management practices, policy approaches, and difficult choices to improve water quality - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

Nutrient surpluses in Australian grazing systems: management practices, policy approaches, and difficult choices to improve water quality - ResearchGate

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 20 Mar 2026

Notes

Benchmark values are stratified by soil texture to reflect inherent infiltration potential.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSR-LVG-SWI family.

— mm/hr High
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
— mm/hr High
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
— mm/hr High
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
5 mm/hr Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
LowerThreshold Active v1
1 mm/hr Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
LowerThreshold Active v1
30 mm/hr Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
UpperThreshold Active v1