Litter Cover
Benchmark Value
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.
Evidence & Context
The widely cited and empirically supported minimum threshold to prevent significant wind erosion is greater than 50% ground cover.
Litter Cover as percentage of ground cover to prevent wind erosion
Minimum litter cover required to prevent significant wind erosion in arid agricultural cropping systems.
This value is consistently referenced by state agricultural departments and national bodies as the point at which wind speed at the soil surface is sufficiently reduced to prevent soil particle detachment.
Sources (1)
Macroecology of Australian Tall Eucalypt Forests: Baseline Data from a Continental-Scale Permanent Plot Network - PMC, accessed March 27, 2026,
View SourceSupporting Sources (2)
Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.
Grazing-management-for-soil-carbon-in-Australia-A-review.pdf - University of Tasmania, accessed April 29, 2025,
View SourceStubble Management Guidelines - Upper North Farming Systems
View Source