Bare Ground — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

Benchmark Value

30 %

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 13 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 12 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

A bare ground level exceeding 30% is considered the critical threshold for a degraded state.

Metric Definition:

Maximum acceptable percentage of bare ground before significant soil erosion and degradation occurs.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark sets the critical upper limit of bare ground cover in agricultural cropping systems, beyond which soil degradation and erosion risk become unacceptable.

Justification:

Based on robust erosion control thresholds established in Australian temperate cropping systems.

Sources (1)

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, Journal

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

Supporting Sources (18)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of “COLLINGWOOD” CASE STUDY: THE NARRATIVE - Soils For Life, accessed August 5, 2025,

“COLLINGWOOD” CASE STUDY: THE NARRATIVE - Soils For Life, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

“COLLINGWOOD” CASE STUDY: THE NARRATIVE - Soils For Life, accessed August 5, 2025,

Preview of Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed May 11, 2025

Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Buffel grass in Queensland's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 13, 2025

Preview of Australian Government Data Catalogue - Dataplace, accessed August 5, 2025,

Australian Government Data Catalogue - Dataplace, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and ..., accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Balancing Conservation and Production in Grassy Landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Balancing Conservation and Production in Grassy Landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

Balancing Conservation and Production in Grassy Landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of CHICKPEA - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), accessed August 5, 2025,

CHICKPEA - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

CHICKPEA - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), accessed August 5, 2025,

Preview of CROP ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT, accessed August 5, 2025,

CROP ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Row spacing of winter crops in broad scale agriculture in southern ..., accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Drivers of practice change in land management in Australian agriculture - DAFF, accessed August 5, 2025,

Drivers of practice change in land management in Australian agriculture - DAFF, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture case study: The Collingwood Story - Soils For Life, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of finalrepport - MLA, accessed August 5, 2025,

finalrepport - MLA, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia. (n.d.). Soil compaction overview.

Preview of Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland & Grassy Eucalypt Woodland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland & Grassy Eucalypt Woodland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. (2006). Woodland Remnants and Dryland Salinity: Impacts of dryland salinity on woodland remnants in the Southern Tablelands and South-West Slopes of New South Wales.

Preview of Pasture cropping on Winona - A Soils For Life case study, accessed August 5, 2025,

Pasture cropping on Winona - A Soils For Life case study, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Pasture cropping on Winona - A Soils For Life case study, accessed August 5, 2025,

Preview of PLANNING AND PADDOCK PREPARATION - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), accessed August 5, 2025,

PLANNING AND PADDOCK PREPARATION - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

CHICKPEA - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Regenerative Agriculture - a literature review on the practices and mechanisms used to improve soil health - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 5, 2025,

Regenerative Agriculture - a literature review on the practices and mechanisms used to improve soil health - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

Regenerative Agriculture Program restoring soil pH case study: Macdonald, Whites Flat/Koppio

Preview of Regenerative agriculture case study: The Collingwood Story - Soils For Life, accessed August 5, 2025,

Regenerative agriculture case study: The Collingwood Story - Soils For Life, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative agriculture case study: The Collingwood Story - Soils For Life, accessed August 5, 2025,

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,

Direct Evidence Journal

Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed July 20, 2025,

Preview of Resilient Food Systems for a Changing World - VTechWorks, accessed August 5, 2025,

Resilient Food Systems for a Changing World - VTechWorks, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Resilient Food Systems for a Changing World - VTechWorks, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Soil Use Legacy as Driving Factor for Soil Erosion under Conservation Agriculture - Frontiers, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil Use Legacy as Driving Factor for Soil Erosion under Conservation Agriculture - Frontiers, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The relationships between land management practices and ... - DAFF, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Stubble Retention in Cropping Systems in Southern Australia ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Stubble Retention in Cropping Systems in Southern Australia ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Stubble Retention in Cropping Systems in Southern Australia ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

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,

Direct Evidence Journal

View of Efficacy of the Ecosystem Services Approach in Transitioning to Regenerative Agriculture in Australia | Reinvention, accessed July 27, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 1 Jun 2026

Notes

Exceeding 30% bare ground indicates a high-risk or actively degrading state with net loss of soil, nutrients, and carbon. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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