Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-ASP-AGR-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 30 to 70 mm/hr
Thresholds: Lower: 10, Upper: —
Optimal Range: 30 to 70
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

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 18 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 17 guard(s) constrain the result.

Evidence & Context

The benchmark is a derived range representing a high-functioning state. It is based on infiltration rates measured in healthy, native mulga grove ecosystems (30–70 mm/hr), which aligns with rates achievable under best-practice regenerative agriculture (e.g., 45 mm/hr).

Metric Definition:

Soil water infiltration rate as measured in mm/hr representing the rate at which water enters the soil surface.

Benchmark Definition:

Soil water infiltration rate is the rate at which water enters the soil surface, measured in mm/hr, representing a high-functioning state in arid shrublands agricultural crop production.

Justification:

The benchmark is derived from infiltration rates measured in healthy native mulga groves and rates achievable under best-practice regenerative agriculture, representing a high-functioning state.

Sources (1)

Preview of Infiltration rates and soil moisture in a groved mulga community near Alice Springs, arid central Australia: Evidence for complex internal rainwater redistribution in a runoff-runon landscape | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Infiltration rates and soil moisture in a groved mulga community near Alice Springs, arid central Australia: Evidence for complex internal rainwater redistribution in a runoff-runon landscape | Request PDF - ResearchGate Journal

Infiltration rates and soil moisture in a groved mulga community near Alice Springs, arid central Australia: Evidence for complex internal rainwater redistribution in a runoff-runon landscape | Request PDF - ResearchGate

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Supporting Sources (4)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025,
Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Root Structure and Functioning for Efficient Acquisition of Phosphorus: Matching Morphological and Physiological Traits

View Source
Preview of Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis | PLOS One, accessed July 6, 2025,
Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis | PLOS One, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Critical review of the impacts of grazing intensity on soil organic carbon storage and other soil quality indicators in extensively managed grasslands - PubMed Central, accessed July 10, 2025,

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Preview of Infiltration rate measurements in arid soils with surface crust - ResearchGate
Infiltration rate measurements in arid soils with surface crust - ResearchGate
Methodology Source Journal

Infiltration rate measurements in arid soils with surface crust - ResearchGate

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Preview of supporting sustainable development - risks and impacts of plant ...
supporting sustainable development - risks and impacts of plant ...
Contextual Support Journal

Queensland Murray-Darling Freshwater Biogeographic Province ..., accessed July 21, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Shrublands & Stony Plains
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 21 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 10 mm/hr. Lower Critical Threshold: <10 mm/hr indicates severe degradation such as surface crusting. Upper Detrimental Threshold is not a fixed value but a functional limit where infiltration rates, especially in sandy soils, can cause nutrient leaching.