Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-TSW-AGR-SWI General High confidence

Benchmark Value

5 mm/hr
Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 5
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 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

A scientifically defensible value for this threshold is provided by research describing a "degenerated" soil with a compact structure and a capped surface, which may have a terminal infiltration rate of <5 mm/hr.

Metric Definition:

Lower critical threshold infiltration rate below which the agroecosystem is impaired.

Benchmark Definition:

Critical infiltration rate threshold indicating system dysfunction.

Justification:

Below this rate, the soil is dysfunctional, generating excessive runoff and failing to capture rainfall.

Sources (1)

Preview of "Exploring the Critical Role of Water in Regenerative Agriculture; Building Promises and Avoiding Pitfalls"
"Exploring the Critical Role of Water in Regenerative Agriculture; Building Promises and Avoiding Pitfalls" GreyLiterature

Exploring the Critical Role of Water in Regenerative ... - Frontiers, accessed July 7, 2025

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Supporting Sources (38)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) The hydrology of Vertosols used for cotton production: I. Hydraulic, structural and fundamental soil properties - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025
(PDF) The hydrology of Vertosols used for cotton production: I. Hydraulic, structural and fundamental soil properties - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025
Contextual Support

(PDF) The hydrology of Vertosols used for cotton production: I. Hydraulic, structural and fundamental soil properties - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025

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Preview of Combatting non-wetting soils - GRDC, accessed July 6, 2025,
Combatting non-wetting soils - GRDC, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Effect of Livestock Grazing Policies on Rangeland Ecosystems in Brazil - AJPO Journals

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Preview of Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis | PLOS One, accessed July 6, 2025,
Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis | PLOS One, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Critical review of the impacts of grazing intensity on soil organic carbon storage and other soil quality indicators in extensively managed grasslands - PubMed Central, accessed July 10, 2025,

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Preview of Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis, accessed July 6, 2025,
Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Ecology | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government

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Preview of Eyre Peninsula Farming Systems Summary 2023 - Department of Primary Industries and Regions
Eyre Peninsula Farming Systems Summary 2023 - Department of Primary Industries and Regions
Contextual Support Journal

Find out the Different Types of Soil in Australia - Kelly Tillage AUS, accessed July 7, 2025

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Preview of functions-of-soil-organic-matter-and-the-effect-on-soil-properties.pdf.pdf, accessed July 19, 2025,
functions-of-soil-organic-matter-and-the-effect-on-soil-properties.pdf.pdf, accessed July 19, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

The biodiversity cost of carbon sequestration in tropical savanna - PMC - PubMed Central

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Preview of Growing Carbon Farming Demonstartion Pilots: Mallee Sustainable Farming - PIRSA, accessed July 7, 2025
Growing Carbon Farming Demonstartion Pilots: Mallee Sustainable Farming - PIRSA, accessed July 7, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Growing Carbon Farming Demonstartion Pilots: Mallee Sustainable Farming - PIRSA, accessed July 7, 2025

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Preview of High clay contents, dense soils, and spatial variability are the principal subsoil constraints to cropping the higher rainfall land in south-eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 7, 2025
High clay contents, dense soils, and spatial variability are the principal subsoil constraints to cropping the higher rainfall land in south-eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 7, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

High clay contents, dense soils, and spatial variability are the principal subsoil constraints to cropping the higher rainfall land in south-eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 26, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Impacts of Agricultural Management Practices on Soil Health - NCBI, accessed May 11, 2025
Impacts of Agricultural Management Practices on Soil Health - NCBI, accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support

Grazing support programs | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed July 17, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Impacts of Different Tillage Practices on Soil Water Infiltration for Sustainable Agriculture, accessed July 7, 2025
Impacts of Different Tillage Practices on Soil Water Infiltration for Sustainable Agriculture, accessed July 7, 2025
Contextual Support

Understanding the surface hydrology of the Lake Eyre Basin: Part 10Rainfall | Request PDF, accessed July 21, 2025

View Source
Preview of Indicators of Soil Health - AUSVEG, accessed August 4, 2025
Indicators of Soil Health - AUSVEG, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Indicators of Soil Health - AUSVEG, accessed July 7, 2025

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Preview of Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Infiltration Infiltration Management - USDA, accessed July 7, 2025
Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Infiltration Infiltration Management - USDA, accessed July 7, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Soil Health Assessment of Two Regenerative Farming Practices on Sandy Soils

View Source
Preview of Is soil compaction reducing wheat yields in the Victorian Mallee? | Birchip Cropping Group, accessed July 7, 2025
Is soil compaction reducing wheat yields in the Victorian Mallee? | Birchip Cropping Group, accessed July 7, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

The Effect of Sodic Water Type on the Chemical Properties of Calcareous Soil in Semi-Arid Irrigated Land - MDPI, accessed July 7, 2025

View Source
Preview of Living soils in agriculture | TERN Australia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Living soils in agriculture | TERN Australia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Living soils in agriculture | TERN Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Measuring and modeling the water balance of low rainfall cropping systems - CCAFS, accessed July 7, 2025
Measuring and modeling the water balance of low rainfall cropping systems - CCAFS, accessed July 7, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Measuring and modeling the water balance of low rainfall cropping systems - CCAFS, accessed July 7, 2025

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Preview of Meningie East – Field Healthy Soils Update Thursday 4th of March including lunch, accessed July 7, 2025
Meningie East – Field Healthy Soils Update Thursday 4th of March including lunch, accessed July 7, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Promoting soil health in dryland agriculture by increasing cropping intensity - Agronomy Australia Proceedings, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Monitoring the behaviour of Australian Vertosols in response to the shrink–swell characteristic and cotton picker traffic - University of Southern Queensland Repository, accessed July 7, 2025
Monitoring the behaviour of Australian Vertosols in response to the shrink–swell characteristic and cotton picker traffic - University of Southern Queensland Repository, accessed July 7, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Monitoring the behaviour of Australian Vertosols in response to the shrink–swell characteristic and cotton picker traffic - University of Southern Queensland Repository, accessed July 7, 2025

View Source
Preview of On the Surface, What kind of Soil Are You Farming?, accessed July 7, 2025
On the Surface, What kind of Soil Are You Farming?, accessed July 7, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

On the Surface, What kind of Soil Are You Farming?, accessed July 7, 2025

View Source
Preview of Physical Condition of Surface Soil - Location SA, accessed July 7, 2025
Physical Condition of Surface Soil - Location SA, accessed July 7, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis, accessed July 7, 2025

View Source
Preview of Procedure for Soil Respiration (CO2 Evolution from Rewetting a Dried Soil) - Soil Fertility, accessed July 9, 2025
Procedure for Soil Respiration (CO2 Evolution from Rewetting a Dried Soil) - Soil Fertility, accessed July 9, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil pH and Organic Matter - MSU Extension | Montana State University, accessed July 28, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Rangeland Soil Quality: Infiltration - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 6, 2025,
Rangeland Soil Quality: Infiltration - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Infiltration.pdf - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of Regen Ag #9- Nurture the Water Cycle - Dirty Clean Food, accessed July 7, 2025
Regen Ag #9- Nurture the Water Cycle - Dirty Clean Food, accessed July 7, 2025
Contextual Support

Regen Ag #9- Nurture the Water Cycle - Dirty Clean Food, accessed July 7, 2025

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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,

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Preview of Seeding next to previous year's crop row (near-row sowing) can increase grain yields on water repellent soils - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Soil Research, accessed July 6, 2025,
Seeding next to previous year's crop row (near-row sowing) can increase grain yields on water repellent soils - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Soil Research, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Find out the Different Types of Soil in Australia - Kelly Tillage AUS

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Preview of Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture - MLA, accessed August 5, 2025,
Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture - MLA, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Spatial distribution of soil microbial activity and soil properties ..., accessed August 13, 2025,

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Preview of Soil Infiltration Properties Are Affected by Typical Plant Communities in a Semi-Arid Desert Grassland in China - MDPI
Soil Infiltration Properties Are Affected by Typical Plant Communities in a Semi-Arid Desert Grassland in China - MDPI
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Infiltration Properties Are Affected by Typical Plant Communities in a Semi-Arid Desert Grassland in China - MDPI, accessed July 10, 2025,

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Preview of Soil management for sustainable agriculture : background papers from a workshop organized by the Research Review Committee of th, accessed July 7, 2025
Soil management for sustainable agriculture : background papers from a workshop organized by the Research Review Committee of th, accessed July 7, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Soil management guides - NSW Department of Primary Industries

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Preview of Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed July 7, 2025
Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed July 7, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Impact of soil conditions on hydrology and water quality for a brown clay in the north-eastern cereal zone of Australia - CSIRO Publishing

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Preview of Strategic tillage of a long-term, no-till soil has little impact on soil characteristics or crop growth over five years
Strategic tillage of a long-term, no-till soil has little impact on soil characteristics or crop growth over five years
Contextual Support Journal

What is Regenerative Agriculture? - Soils For Life, accessed August 13, 2025,

View Source
Preview of The important role of soil texture on water - Crops and Soils, accessed July 6, 2025,
The important role of soil texture on water - Crops and Soils, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Infiltration.pdf - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 7, 2025

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Preview of The important role of soil texture on water - Crops and Soils, accessed July 7, 2025
The important role of soil texture on water - Crops and Soils, accessed July 7, 2025
Contextual Support Government

The important role of soil texture on water - Crops and Soils, accessed July 7, 2025

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Preview of The management of soil physical properties limiting crop production in Australian sodic soils - a review - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025
The management of soil physical properties limiting crop production in Australian sodic soils - a review - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

The management of soil physical properties limiting crop production in Australian sodic soils - a review - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025

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Preview of Traffic and residue cover effects on infiltration | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025
Traffic and residue cover effects on infiltration | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Vertosols | VRO - Victorian Resources Online, accessed July 7, 2025

View Source
Preview of Understanding Soil Infiltration - Ideal Geotech, accessed July 7, 2025
Understanding Soil Infiltration - Ideal Geotech, accessed July 7, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Predicting Shifts in Australian Shrublands with Changing Climates and Land Uses - Forest Service

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

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Preview of Victorian Grain Cropping Soils - Sodosols | VRO | Agriculture Victoria, accessed July 7, 2025
Victorian Grain Cropping Soils - Sodosols | VRO | Agriculture Victoria, accessed July 7, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Tool 6.7 Soil health benchmarks and guidelines for managing problem soils, accessed July 7, 2025

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Preview of Water ponding for pastoral production in central Australia
Water ponding for pastoral production in central Australia
Contextual Support Journal

Classifying Soil by Infiltration Rate - Number Analytics, accessed July 7, 2025

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Management priority is to break surface crusts and address causes like compaction or sodicity.

Related Benchmarks

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

15 mm/hr High
Agricultural Crop Production · Conservation Target
Point Active v1
40 mm/hr High
Agricultural Crop Production · Conservation Target
Point Active v1
50 mm/hr High
Agricultural Crop Production · Conservation Target
MinimumOnly Active v1