Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-TSW-CON-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 15 to 30 mm/hr

Thresholds: Lower: 10, Upper: —

Optimal Range: 15 to 30

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.

Evidence & Context

Loamy soils have an indicative reference range of 15 – 30 mm/hr.

Metric Definition:

Steady-state soil water infiltration rate for loamy soils in mm/hr.

Benchmark Definition:

Infiltration rate range for loamy soils indicating high ecological health in temperate semi-arid shrublands and open woodlands under conservation management.

Justification:

Based on field data showing strong aggregate stability, high organic matter, and extensive biopores.

Sources (1)

Preview of Understanding Water Movement Throughout Different Soil Profiles ..., accessed July 6, 2025,

Understanding Water Movement Throughout Different Soil Profiles ..., accessed July 6, 2025, Journal

A closer look at rainforests - Forestry Corporation

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Supporting Sources (37)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

(PDF) Mineral Nutrition of Plants in Australia's Arid Zone - ResearchGate, accessed July 13, 2025

Contextual Support

(PDF) Mineral Nutrition of Plants in Australia's Arid Zone - ResearchGate

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(PDF) The Extraordinary Nature of the Great Western Woodlands - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

(PDF) The Extraordinary Nature of the Great Western Woodlands - ResearchGate

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5.8 Increasing Plant Available Water - Soil Water Solutions

Contextual Support Journal

Navigating the Wealth of Soil Health Information & Identification of Opportunities - AUSVEG

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Preview of A framework relating soil surface condition to infiltration and sediment and nutrient mobilization in grazed rangelands of northeastern Queensland, Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate

A framework relating soil surface condition to infiltration and sediment and nutrient mobilization in grazed rangelands of northeastern Queensland, Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

A framework relating soil surface condition to infiltration and sediment and nutrient mobilization in grazed rangelands of northeastern Queensland, Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025,

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Preview of Abiotic and biotic responses to woody debris additions in restored old fields in a multi‐site Before‐After‐Control‐Impact experiment - PMC - PubMed Central

Abiotic and biotic responses to woody debris additions in restored old fields in a multi‐site Before‐After‐Control‐Impact experiment - PMC - PubMed Central

Contextual Support Government

Abiotic and biotic responses to woody debris additions in restored old fields in a multi‐site Before‐After‐Control‐Impact experiment - PMC - PubMed Central

View Source

Preview of Assessing the influence of shrubs and their interspaces on enhancing infiltration in arid Australian shrubland | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 26, 2025

Assessing the influence of shrubs and their interspaces on enhancing infiltration in arid Australian shrubland | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 26, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Systematic variation of soil infiltration rates within and between the components of the vegetation mosaic in an Australian desert landscape | Request PDF - ResearchGate

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Avon Basin hydrological and nutrient modelling - Government of Western Australia

Contextual Support Journal

Avon Basin hydrological and nutrient modelling - Government of Western Australia

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Case studies | Australia state of the environment 2021

Contextual Support Journal

Case studies | Australia state of the environment 2021

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Combatting non-wetting soils - GRDC, accessed July 6, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Effect of Livestock Grazing Policies on Rangeland Ecosystems in Brazil - AJPO Journals

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,

View Source

Desertification in Australia: Definition, Causes and Environmental Impact - Access EP

Contextual Support

Desertification in Australia: Definition, Causes and Environmental Impact - Access EP

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Do shrubs reduce the adverse effects of grazing on soil properties? - ResearchGate

Contextual Support

The effect of three fire regimes on stream water quality, water yield ...

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Preview of Does above-average rainfall stimulate a recruitment pulse in semi-arid woodlands of southeastern Australia? - vegsciblog.org, accessed July 12, 2025,

Does above-average rainfall stimulate a recruitment pulse in semi-arid woodlands of southeastern Australia? - vegsciblog.org, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Does above-average rainfall stimulate a recruitment pulse in semi-arid woodlands of southeastern Australia? - vegsciblog.org

View Source

Preview of DRAFT Description and Listing Assessment for the Plains Mallee Box Woodland of the Murray Darling Depression and Riverina Bioregion - DCCEEW

DRAFT Description and Listing Assessment for the Plains Mallee Box Woodland of the Murray Darling Depression and Riverina Bioregion - DCCEEW

Contextual Support Journal

DRAFT Description and Listing Assessment for the Plains Mallee Box Woodland of the Murray Darling Depression and Riverina Bioregion - DCCEEW

View Source

Preview of Ecosystem wicks: Woodland trees enhance water infiltration in a fragmented agricultural landscape in eastern Australia - CiteSeerX

Ecosystem wicks: Woodland trees enhance water infiltration in a fragmented agricultural landscape in eastern Australia - CiteSeerX

Contextual Support

Ecosystem wicks: Woodland trees enhance water infiltration in a fragmented agricultural landscape in eastern Australia - CiteSeerX, accessed July 12, 2025,

View Source

Effect of stock removal on woodlands in the Murray Mallee and Wimmera Bioregions of Victoria - CiteSeerX

Contextual Support

Effect of stock removal on woodlands in the Murray Mallee and Wimmera Bioregions of Victoria - CiteSeerX

View Source

Find out the Different Types of Soil in Australia - Kelly Tillage AUS, accessed July 6, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

ASC - TENOSOLS - Soil Science Australia

View Source

Great Western Woodlands - Wikipedia, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Great Western Woodlands - Wikipedia, accessed July 12, 2025,

View Source

Impacts of grazing by kangaroos and rabbits on vegetation and soils in a semi-arid conservation reserve | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Impacts of grazing by kangaroos and rabbits on vegetation and soils in a semi-arid conservation reserve | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source

Influence of Land Use and Land Cover on Hydraulic and Physical Soil Properties at the Cerrado Agricultural Frontier - MDPI

Contextual Support Journal

Influence of Land Use and Land Cover on Hydraulic and Physical Soil Properties at the Cerrado Agricultural Frontier - MDPI

View Source

Microbiotic Soil Crusts: A Review of their Roles in Soil and Ecological Processes in the Rangelands of Australia

Contextual Support Journal

Microbiotic Soil Crusts: A Review of their Roles in Soil and Ecological Processes in the Rangelands of Australia

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NVIS Fact sheet MVG 14 – Mallee woodlands and shrublands - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

NVIS Fact sheet MVG 19 – Tussock grasslands, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source

Rehabilitation of Grassy Box Woodland –A ... - Whitehaven Coal, accessed August 12, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

Rehabilitation of Grassy Box Woodland –A structured Review | Whitehaven Coal

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Preview of Seed row placement relative to the previous crop stubble row can harness systems benefits on water repellent sands - CSIRO Publishing

Seed row placement relative to the previous crop stubble row can harness systems benefits on water repellent sands - CSIRO Publishing

Contextual Support Journal

Seed row placement relative to the previous crop stubble row can harness systems benefits on water repellent sands - CSIRO Publishing

View Source

Preview of Seeding next to previous year's crop row (near-row sowing) can increase grain yields on water repellent soils - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Soil Research, accessed July 6, 2025,

Seeding next to previous year's crop row (near-row sowing) can increase grain yields on water repellent soils - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Soil Research, accessed July 6, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Find out the Different Types of Soil in Australia - Kelly Tillage AUS

View Source

Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 28, 2025,

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Soil Constraints in an Arid Environment—Challenges, Prospects, and Implications - MDPI, accessed July 6, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil pH | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed July 28, 2025

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Soil Infiltration Properties Are Affected by Typical Plant Communities in a Semi-Arid Desert Grassland in China - MDPI

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Infiltration Properties Are Affected by Typical Plant Communities in a Semi-Arid Desert Grassland in China - MDPI, accessed July 10, 2025,

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Soil Water Repellence - Soil Quality Knowledge Base

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Water Repellence - Soil Quality Knowledge Base

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Preview of Temporary cropping in semi-arid shrublands increases native perennial grasses - Submission on the review of the native vegetation regulation, accessed July 15, 2025,

Temporary cropping in semi-arid shrublands increases native perennial grasses - Submission on the review of the native vegetation regulation, accessed July 15, 2025,

Contextual Support

Soil Constraints in an Arid Environment—Challenges, Prospects, and Implications - MDPI

View Source

The impact of artificial watering points on rangeland biodiversity: A review - Ninti One

Contextual Support Journal

The effect of trees on preferential flow and soil infiltrability in an agroforestry parkland in semiarid Burkina Faso - PubMed Central

View Source

The Lasting Effects of Overgrazing on Rangeland Ecosystems - SDSU Extension

Contextual Support Government

The Lasting Effects of Overgrazing on Rangeland Ecosystems - SDSU Extension

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Preview of The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF

The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF

Contextual Support Journal

The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF

View Source

The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries

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