Soil Water Infiltration Rate
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 7 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 6 guard(s) constrain the result.
Contributing Benchmarks
Evidence & Context
A Lower Critical Threshold is established at ≤ 5 mm/hr. Rates below this level are indicative of severe soil structural degradation, such as compaction or sodicity, which compromises long-term productivity and ecosystem health by increasing runoff and erosion risk.
Soil Water Infiltration Rate (SWIR) measured as the rate at which water enters the soil profile under field conditions.
This benchmark sets a critical maximum infiltration rate below which soil structure is severely degraded, indicating urgent need for management intervention.
Based on field data indicating severe structural degradation and functional collapse at or below this infiltration rate.
Sources (1)
Healthy soils and water infiltration in the paddock - Local Land Services - NSW Government
View SourceSupporting Sources (12)
Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.
Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 16, 2025,
View Source
Border-check irrigation design | Irrigation | Water | Farm ...
View SourceComparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis | PLOS One - Research journals
View SourceHealthy soils and water infiltration in the paddock
View SourceNitrate leaching from temperate perennial pastures grazed by dairy cows in south-eastern Australia - ResearchGate
View Source
Developments in stubble retention in cropping systems in southern Australia, accessed July 27, 2025
View SourceRegenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed July 20, 2025,
View SourceRenovating damaged pastures and soils | Managing wet soils | Dairy | Livestock and animals | Agriculture Victoria
View Source
Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis
View SourceSoil Health, accessed August 4, 2025
View SourceTERN – Australian Acoustic Observatory | A2O
View SourceWater repellent soils - CSIRO
View Source