Litter Cover

AUS-AMR-AGR-LIT General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

85 %

Range: 70 to 95 %

Thresholds: Lower: 70, Upper: 95

Optimal Range: 70 to 95

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. 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 reference value of 85% is proposed.

Metric Definition:

Litter Cover (%)

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents a best-on-offer condition for regenerative cropping systems in Australia's arid uplands, balancing erosion control with water use efficiency.

Justification:

The confidence is 'Moderate' due to the necessary extrapolation from semi-arid lowlands to arid uplands.

Sources (3)

Preview of Characteristics of soil moisture under different vegetation coverage in Horqin Sandy Land, northern China - PubMed Central

Characteristics of soil moisture under different vegetation coverage in Horqin Sandy Land, northern China - PubMed Central Journal

SOIL HEALTH INDICATORS - EcoVineyards, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source

Preview of No-Till Farming Victoria | Controlled Traffic | Zero Tillage - VicNoTill, accessed August 4, 2025,

No-Till Farming Victoria | Controlled Traffic | Zero Tillage - VicNoTill, accessed August 4, 2025, GreyLiterature

Fact sheet 5: Gully erosion, accessed May 11, 2025

View Source

Preview of Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers Journal

Stubble Retention in Cropping Systems - Gulbali Institute - Charles Sturt University, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source

Supporting Sources (10)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Break Crops - Stubble Management Guidelines, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Plant available water: How do I determine field capacity and permanent wilting point?

View Source

Preview of Examining links between soil management, soil health, and public benefits in agricultural landscapes: An Australian perspective | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 10, 2025,

Examining links between soil management, soil health, and public benefits in agricultural landscapes: An Australian perspective | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source

Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Lang, D. (1979). Groundcover for pastures. Journal of Soil Conservation NSW.

View Source

Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Final Report – Volume 2 - Estimating Pasture Total Standing Biomass (TSDM) from Landsat Fractional Cover., accessed April 29, 2025,

View Source

Managing stubble | General agronomy | Crop production | Grains, pulses and cereals - Agriculture Victoria

Direct Evidence Government

Managing stubble | General agronomy | Crop production | Grains, pulses and cereals - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 13, 2025,

View Source

No-till farming - Wikipedia, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

No-till farming - Wikipedia, accessed August 28, 2025,

View Source

Rangelands - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Rangelands - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source

Regenerative Agriculture Australia: Benefits and Practices - SONIC Natural Farming, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative Agriculture Australia: Benefits and Practices - SONIC Natural Farming, accessed July 27, 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

Snapshot of Australian Agriculture 2025 - DAFF, accessed July 8, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Snapshot of Australian Agriculture 2025 - DAFF, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 21 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 70%. Upper Detrimental Threshold: 95%. Lower Critical Threshold: <70% cover is critically low, leading to a phase shift in hydrological connectivity and accelerated wind and water erosion. Optimal Range: 70-95% cover is considered optimal, providing robust soil protection and moisture conservation. Upper Boundary Consideration: While 'more is generally better' for erosion control, cover >95% may present a net negative soil water balance in very dry years due to rainfall interception and the water cost of biomass production, representing an ecological upper limit in this water-limited biome.