Litter Cover

AUS-TSW-LVG-LIT General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 15 to 20 %

Thresholds: Lower: 15, Upper: —

Optimal Range: 15 to 20

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

This suggests that a minimum of 15-20% litter cover is a reasonable and defensible estimate for the non-negotiable, persistent component needed to maintain baseline soil stability and function year-round.

Metric Definition:

Litter Cover (%)

Benchmark Definition:

Minimum litter cover percentage required to maintain baseline soil stability and function year-round in this biome and land use.

Justification:

The 15-20% litter cover is based on functional microsite analysis indicating this level is necessary for persistent soil protection throughout the year.

Sources (1)

Preview of Little left to lose: deforestation and forest degradation in Australia since European colonization | Journal of Plant Ecology | Oxford Academic, accessed July 12, 2025,

Little left to lose: deforestation and forest degradation in Australia since European colonization | Journal of Plant Ecology | Oxford Academic, accessed July 12, 2025, Journal

Little left to lose: deforestation and forest degradation in Australia since European colonization | Journal of Plant Ecology | Oxford Academic, accessed July 12, 2025,

View Source

Supporting Sources (4)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

Ludwig, J.A., Bastin, G.N., Chewings, V.H., Eager, R.W., and Liedloff, A.C. (2005). Clearing savannas for use as rangelands in Queensland: Altered landscapes and water-erosion processes. Rangeland Journal, 27(2), 135-149.

View Source

functions-of-soil-organic-matter-and-the-effect-on-soil-properties.pdf.pdf, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The Rangeland Journal - CSIRO PUBLISHING

View Source

RCS Regenerative Grazing Principles - Resource Consulting Services

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Grazing management tactics | MBFP | More Beef from Pastures - MLA

View Source

Restoration of degraded grazing country in the semi-arid areas of ..., accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Pasture and grazing land: assessment of sustainability using invertebrate bioindicators

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Degradation Threshold
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 20 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 15 %. This minimum threshold is critical to prevent soil erosion and maintain ecosystem function during dry seasons when live plant cover declines. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSW-LVG-LIT family.