Litter Cover

AUS-AKW-AGR-LIT General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

70 %

Range: 60 to 70 %

Thresholds: Lower: 50, Upper: —

Optimal Range: 60 to 70

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: Point

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

The 70% value is derived from Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) research indicating that 2–3 t/ha of stubble, which provides approximately 70% ground cover, is sufficient for effective erosion control and water infiltration in Australian dryland cropping systems.

Metric Definition:

Litter Cover (%)

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the best achievable litter cover under sustainable or regenerative management in Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands agricultural cropping systems, balancing ecological function and agronomic viability.

Justification:

This represents a "best-on-offer" condition, balancing high ecological function with agronomic viability. Confidence is rated 'Moderate' because this is a necessary and justified extrapolation from broad dryland systems to the more extreme and data-scarce Arid Karstic context.

Sources (1)

Preview of Managing heavy stubble loads without compromising the big things (weeds, disease, pests, timeliness and profit!) - a decade of stubble management and farming systems experiments

Managing heavy stubble loads without compromising the big things (weeds, disease, pests, timeliness and profit!) - a decade of stubble management and farming systems experiments GreyLiterature

Managing heavy stubble loads without compromising the “big things ..., accessed August 13, 2025,

Supporting Sources (17)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of A vulnerable soil environment study in karst areas: a bibliometric analysis - Frontiers, accessed July 23, 2025,

A vulnerable soil environment study in karst areas: a bibliometric analysis - Frontiers, accessed July 23, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil, Water & Air Resources Research: Ames, IA - Publication : USDA ARS, accessed July 23, 2025,

Preview of Best Management Practices to Use on Karst and Silurian Soil - Crops and Soils, accessed July 23, 2025,

Best Management Practices to Use on Karst and Silurian Soil - Crops and Soils, accessed July 23, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Australian Soil: Definition, Classification, Types and Quality - Access EP, accessed July 16, 2025

Preview of Cover Crops for Sustainable Cropping Systems: A Review - MDPI, accessed July 23, 2025,

Cover Crops for Sustainable Cropping Systems: A Review - MDPI, accessed July 23, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Cover Crops for Sustainable Cropping Systems: A Review - MDPI, accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of CSIRO Research Publications Repository - Home Page, accessed July 6, 2025,

CSIRO Research Publications Repository - Home Page, accessed July 6, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis

Preview of Environmental Policy 2013-14 - Nullarbor Links - The World's Longest Golf Course, accessed July 23, 2025,

Environmental Policy 2013-14 - Nullarbor Links - The World's Longest Golf Course, accessed July 23, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

A model to predict the effects of prostrate ground cover on wind erosion - ResearchGate, accessed July 23, 2025,

Preview of Geology of the Nullarbor Plain (Webb and James 2006; courtesy JA Webb). - ResearchGate, accessed July 26, 2025,

Geology of the Nullarbor Plain (Webb and James 2006; courtesy JA Webb). - ResearchGate, accessed July 26, 2025,

Contextual Support

Report 119: Cenozoic evolution of the Nullarbor Plain paleokarst, southern Australia - NET, accessed July 24, 2025

Preview of Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025

Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Soil potassium—crop response calibration relationships and ..., accessed July 24, 2025

Preview of Nullarbor Plain - A biography of the Australian continent, accessed July 23, 2025,

Nullarbor Plain - A biography of the Australian continent, accessed July 23, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Nullarbor Plain - A biography of the Australian continent, accessed July 23, 2025,

Preview of Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 25, 2025,

Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 24, 2025

Preview of Our natural environments - NSW National Parks, accessed July 23, 2025,

Our natural environments - NSW National Parks, accessed July 23, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Our natural environments - NSW National Parks, accessed July 23, 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 Land Management - HEALTHY SOILS AUSTRALIA

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,

Preview of Soil toposequences, soil erosion, and ancient Maya land use adaptations to pedodiversity in the tropical karstic landscapes of southern Mexico - Frontiers, accessed July 23, 2025,

Soil toposequences, soil erosion, and ancient Maya land use adaptations to pedodiversity in the tropical karstic landscapes of southern Mexico - Frontiers, accessed July 23, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil toposequences, soil erosion, and ancient Maya land use adaptations to pedodiversity in the tropical karstic landscapes of southern Mexico - Frontiers, accessed July 23, 2025,

Preview of Stubble Management Guidelines - Upper North Farming Systems

Stubble Management Guidelines - Upper North Farming Systems

Contextual Support Government

Stubble Management Guidelines - Upper North Farming Systems

Preview of Stubble management, accessed July 23, 2025,

Stubble management, accessed July 23, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Stubble management, accessed July 23, 2025,

Preview of Wetlands | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed July 23, 2025,

Wetlands | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed July 23, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Wetlands | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed July 23, 2025,

Preview of Wind erosion | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 23, 2025

Wind erosion | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 23, 2025

Direct Evidence Government

Macroecology of Australian Tall Eucalypt Forests: Baseline Data from a Continental-Scale Permanent Plot Network - PMC, accessed March 27, 2026,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
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 %. An optimal functional range is identified as 60–70 %. An upper detrimental threshold is not defined by a specific percentage but by functional issues such as nitrogen tie-up, pest increases, and seeding failure associated with high stubble loads.

Related Benchmarks

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