Litter Cover

AUS-TSW-AGR-LIT General High confidence

Benchmark Value

50 %
Thresholds: Lower: 50, Upper: —
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: LowerThreshold

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

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard

Evidence & Context

A litter cover below 50% is considered critically low, exposing the soil to significant wind erosion risk, the primary degradation process in this biome.

Metric Definition:

Litter Cover (%)

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the critical lower threshold for litter cover below which soil is exposed to significant wind erosion risk in Australia's temperate semi-arid cropping systems.

Justification:

50% ground cover is the widely accepted minimum target to prevent significant wind erosion in Australian semi-arid cropping systems.

Sources (2)

Preview of The pros and cons of stubble retention - Riverine Plains
The pros and cons of stubble retention - Riverine Plains Journal

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

View Source
Preview of WA Stubble Retention booklet - GRDC
WA Stubble Retention booklet - GRDC Journal

WA Stubble Retention booklet - GRDC

View Source

Supporting Sources (16)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of "Managing for stubble retention" by Linda Leonard - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed July 8, 2025,
"Managing for stubble retention" by Linda Leonard - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed July 8, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

"Managing for stubble retention" by Linda Leonard - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed July 8, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Ch 3. Amount of Organic Matter in Soils - SARE, accessed July 8, 2025,
Ch 3. Amount of Organic Matter in Soils - SARE, accessed July 8, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Ch 3. Amount of Organic Matter in Soils - SARE, accessed July 8, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Crop Litter Has a Strong Effect on Soil Organic Matter Sequestration in Semi-Arid Environments - MDPI, accessed July 8, 2025,
Crop Litter Has a Strong Effect on Soil Organic Matter Sequestration in Semi-Arid Environments - MDPI, accessed July 8, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Crop Litter Has a Strong Effect on Soil Organic Matter Sequestration in Semi-Arid Environments - MDPI, accessed July 8, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed July 8, 2025,
Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed July 8, 2025,
Contextual Support

Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed July 8, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed May 11, 2025
Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Grazing-management-for-soil-carbon-in-Australia-A-review.pdf - University of Tasmania, accessed April 29, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Is sustainable intensification of cropping systems achievable? - GRDC, accessed July 8, 2025,
Is sustainable intensification of cropping systems achievable? - GRDC, accessed July 8, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Is sustainable intensification of cropping systems achievable? - GRDC, accessed July 8, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Opportunities and Challenges for Cover Cropping in Sustainable Agriculture Systems in Southern Australia - MDPI, accessed July 18, 2025,
Opportunities and Challenges for Cover Cropping in Sustainable Agriculture Systems in Southern Australia - MDPI, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Developments in stubble retention in cropping systems in southern Australia, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Principles of Cover Cropping for Arid and Semi-arid Farming Systems | New Mexico State University - BE BOLD. Shape the Future., accessed July 8, 2025,
Principles of Cover Cropping for Arid and Semi-arid Farming Systems | New Mexico State University - BE BOLD. Shape the Future., accessed July 8, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Managing ground cover in the cropping zone of southern NSW, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture - Wikipedia, accessed August 8, 2025
Regenerative agriculture - Wikipedia, accessed August 8, 2025
Contextual Support

Regenerative agriculture - Wikipedia, accessed August 28, 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 Semi-arid woodlands (shrubby sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science, accessed July 12, 2025, )
Semi-arid woodlands (shrubby sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science, accessed July 12, 2025, )
Contextual Support Government

Semi-arid woodlands (grassy sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science, accessed July 12, 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 The effect of stubble on nitrogen tie-up and supply - GRDC, accessed July 8, 2025,
The effect of stubble on nitrogen tie-up and supply - GRDC, accessed July 8, 2025,
Contextual Support

Ground cover monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed August 4, 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 Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,
Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support

Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed May 19, 2025

View Source
Preview of Woodlands of Australia - A biography of the Australian continent, accessed July 12, 2025,
Woodlands of Australia - A biography of the Australian continent, accessed July 12, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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

View Source

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

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Below 50% cover, the agroecosystem is at high risk of wind erosion and degradation.

Related Benchmarks

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

70 % High
Agricultural Crop Production · Pristine Reference
Point Active v1
— % High
Agricultural Crop Production · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1