Bare Ground

AUS-TSW-AGR-BAR General High confidence

Benchmark Value

10 %
Range: 0 to 10 %
Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 50
Optimal Range: 0 to 10
Direction: Lower 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 5 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 4 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Therefore, a benchmark of <10% Bare Ground is proposed as the reference value for the best available condition.

Metric Definition:

Bare Ground (%) - the percentage of soil surface that is not covered by vegetation, stubble, or litter.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the maximum acceptable percentage of bare soil surface in temperate semi-arid shrublands under agricultural crop production, indicating high ecological function and resilience aligned with conservation goals.

Justification:

This benchmark is derived from large-scale government land monitoring data and best-practice regenerative and conservation agriculture principles that aim to eliminate bare soil, providing a high margin of safety from critical erosion thresholds.

Sources (3)

Preview of Agricultural groundcover update May 2024 - DPIRD's Digital library
Agricultural groundcover update May 2024 - DPIRD's Digital library Journal

Agricultural groundcover update May 2024 - DPIRD's Digital library

View Source
Preview of Managing stubble | General agronomy | Crop production | Grains ...
Managing stubble | General agronomy | Crop production | Grains ... Journal

Managing stubble | General agronomy | Crop production | Grains ...

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers
Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers Journal

Stubble Retention in Cropping Systems - Gulbali Institute - Charles Sturt University, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source

Supporting Sources (21)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 'Prospect Pastoral Company' – Against all odds - Soils For Life, accessed July 8, 2025,
'Prospect Pastoral Company' – Against all odds - Soils For Life, accessed July 8, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

'Prospect Pastoral Company' – Against all odds - Soils For Life, accessed July 8, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Ian and Di Haggerty | No-till on the Plains | Agriculture Production Systems Modeling Nature, accessed July 8, 2025,
Ian and Di Haggerty | No-till on the Plains | Agriculture Production Systems Modeling Nature, accessed July 8, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Ian and Di Haggerty | No-till on the Plains | Agriculture Production Systems Modeling Nature, accessed July 8, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Love, Humility & Gratitude — A Farming Journey | Sustainable Table, accessed July 8, 2025,
Love, Humility & Gratitude — A Farming Journey | Sustainable Table, accessed July 8, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Love, Humility & Gratitude — A Farming Journey | Sustainable Table, accessed July 8, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Managing ground cover in the cropping zone of southern NSW, accessed May 11, 2025
Managing ground cover in the cropping zone of southern NSW, accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 8, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Managing stubble | General agronomy | Crop production | Grains, pulses and cereals - Agriculture Victoria
Managing stubble | General agronomy | Crop production | Grains, pulses and cereals - Agriculture Victoria
Contextual Support Government

Managing stubble | General agronomy | Crop production | Grains, pulses and cereals - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 13, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Meeting the Australian Wool Growers Bringing the Land Back to Life - Textile Exchange, accessed July 8, 2025,
Meeting the Australian Wool Growers Bringing the Land Back to Life - Textile Exchange, accessed July 8, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Meeting the Australian Wool Growers Bringing the Land Back to Life - Textile Exchange, accessed July 8, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Monitoring ground cover: an online tool for Australian regions - eo-data.csiro.au, accessed July 18, 2025,
Monitoring ground cover: an online tool for Australian regions - eo-data.csiro.au, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Erosion and sediment yields in the Kakadu region of northern Australia - INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HYDROLOGICAL SCIENCES

View Source
Preview of Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ..., accessed May 11, 2025
Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ..., accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion - Agriculture Victoria, accessed May 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of Project Updates – Mixed Cover Crops for Sustainable Farming - CSIRO Research
Project Updates – Mixed Cover Crops for Sustainable Farming - CSIRO Research
Contextual Support Government

Stubble Retention in Cropping Systems in Southern Australia: Benefits and Challenges - Charles Sturt University, accessed July 8, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025
Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

NCC: Regenerative Agriculture and Soil Health - Wet Tropics Plan, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,
Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 28, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Restoring the Western Wheatbelt: a case study update - Soils For Life, accessed July 8, 2025,
Restoring the Western Wheatbelt: a case study update - Soils For Life, accessed July 8, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Restoring the Western Wheatbelt: a case study update - Soils For Life, accessed July 8, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Semi-arid woodlands (grassy sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science, accessed July 8, 2025, )
Semi-arid woodlands (grassy sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science, accessed July 8, 2025, )
Contextual Support Journal

Semi-arid woodlands (grassy sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science, accessed July 8, 2025, )

View Source
Preview of Stubble Management Guidelines - Upper North Farming Systems, accessed July 8, 2025,
Stubble Management Guidelines - Upper North Farming Systems, accessed July 8, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed August 13, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Stubble Retention in Cropping Systems in Southern Australia: Benefits and Challenges - Charles Sturt University
Stubble Retention in Cropping Systems in Southern Australia: Benefits and Challenges - Charles Sturt University
Contextual Support Journal

Shelterbelts for control of wind erosion | Erosion | Soil | Farm management, accessed August 13, 2025,

View Source
Preview of The pros and cons of stubble retention - Riverine Plains
The pros and cons of stubble retention - Riverine Plains
Contextual Support Journal

WA Stubble Retention booklet - GRDC, accessed July 8, 2025,

View Source
Preview of The pros and cons of stubble retention - Riverine Plains, accessed July 8, 2025,
The pros and cons of stubble retention - Riverine Plains, accessed July 8, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 22, 2025

View Source
Preview of The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 22, 2025,
The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries

View Source
Preview of Using regenerative farming to enhance biodiversity - Local Land Services, accessed July 8, 2025,
Using regenerative farming to enhance biodiversity - Local Land Services, accessed July 8, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Using regenerative farming to enhance biodiversity - Local Land Services, accessed July 8, 2025,

View Source
Preview of WESTERN REGION - GRDC, accessed July 8, 2025,
WESTERN REGION - GRDC, accessed July 8, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Managing stubble | General agronomy | Crop production | Grains ...

View Source
Preview of Wind erosion | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 12, 2025,
Wind erosion | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 12, 2025,
Direct Evidence Government

Management - Mallee Sustainable Farming, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 50 %. Optimal range: 0% to 10%.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSW-AGR-BAR family.

10 % Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Pristine Reference
MaximumOnly Active v3
— % Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
50 % Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Pristine Reference · summer-autumn
MinimumOnly Active v1
30 % Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Pristine Reference
MaximumOnly Superseded v2
50 % Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Pristine Reference
MaximumOnly Superseded v1