Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-AIF-CON-SWI General High confidence

Benchmark Value

35 mm/hr
Range: 30 to 45 mm/hr
Thresholds: Lower: 5, Upper: —
Optimal Range: 30 to 45
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.

Evidence & Context

Proposed Benchmark: 35 mm/hr

Metric Definition:

Soil water infiltration rate measured as steady-state infiltration rate in mm/hr

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the best available condition for soil water infiltration rate in functional vegetated patches within conservation areas of the Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems biome.

Justification:

The benchmark of 35 mm/hr is derived from measured steady-state rates of 30-45 mm/hr at Fowlers Gap Arid Zone Research Station, supported by rates of ~70 mm/hr in high-functioning groves at Menindee and ~33 mm/hr in rehabilitated clay soils.

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

View Source

Supporting Sources (15)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Influence of cracking clays on satellite estimated and model simulated soil moisture, accessed July 21, 2025,
(PDF) Influence of cracking clays on satellite estimated and model simulated soil moisture, accessed July 21, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Influence of cracking clays on satellite estimated and model simulated soil moisture, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Floodplain inundation mapping and modelling – Accessible text - CSIRO, accessed July 21, 2025,
Floodplain inundation mapping and modelling – Accessible text - CSIRO, accessed July 21, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Floodplain inundation mapping and modelling – Accessible text - CSIRO, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Infiltration
Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Infiltration
Contextual Support Journal

Appendix H - Water Infiltration Modelling - NTEPA, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Managing soils - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 21, 2025,
Managing soils - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 21, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Gilgai wetlands - WetlandInfo, accessed July 19, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Menindee Lakes - WaterNSW, accessed July 21, 2025,
Menindee Lakes - WaterNSW, accessed July 21, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Menindee Lakes - WaterNSW, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of National Guidance on Acid Sulfate Soils - Water Quality Australia
National Guidance on Acid Sulfate Soils - Water Quality Australia
Contextual Support Journal

Managing soils - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

View Source
Preview of Soil Infiltration Properties Are Affected by Typical Plant Communities in a Semi-Arid Desert Grassland in China - MDPI
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,

View Source
Preview of Soils and carbon for reduced emissions - Agriculture Victoria, accessed July 6, 2025,
Soils and carbon for reduced emissions - Agriculture Victoria, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Soils and carbon for reduced emissions - Agriculture Victoria, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soils and land suitability for the Victoria catchment ... - CSIRO, accessed May 15, 2025,
Soils and land suitability for the Victoria catchment ... - CSIRO, accessed May 15, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Impact of soil conditions on hydrology and water quality for a brown clay in the north-eastern cereal zone of Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soils and land suitability for the Victoria catchment, Northern Territory - CSIRO, accessed July 21, 2025,
Soils and land suitability for the Victoria catchment, Northern Territory - CSIRO, accessed July 21, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Soils and land suitability for the Victoria catchment, Northern Territory - CSIRO, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of The dirt on our soils - Curious - Australian Academy of Science, accessed July 13, 2025
The dirt on our soils - Curious - Australian Academy of Science, accessed July 13, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

1301.0 - ABS Feature Articles, 1966 - Australian Bureau of Statistics, accessed July 28, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Thresholds in Ecological and Social–Ecological Systems: a Developing Database, accessed July 21, 2025,
Thresholds in Ecological and Social–Ecological Systems: a Developing Database, accessed July 21, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Thresholds in Ecological and Social–Ecological Systems: a Developing Database, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Understanding Soil Infiltration - Ideal Geotech, accessed July 6, 2025,
Understanding Soil Infiltration - Ideal Geotech, accessed July 6, 2025,
Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

National Soil Strategy

View Source
Preview of Understanding the properties of South Australian agricultural soils.1 - Department for Environment and Water, accessed July 22, 2025,
Understanding the properties of South Australian agricultural soils.1 - Department for Environment and Water, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Fowlers Gap (24) - Australian Acoustic Observatory, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Water Infiltration Rates into Unponded and Ponded Soils in Central ..., accessed July 21, 2025,
Water Infiltration Rates into Unponded and Ponded Soils in Central ..., accessed July 21, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Water Infiltration Rates into Unponded and Ponded Soils in Central ..., accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 5 mm/hr. Optimal Range: 15 mm/hr to 70 mm/hr supports resilient ecological function. No direct detrimental upper threshold; higher rates generally better but >70 mm/hr may increase risk of nutrient leaching or subsoil salt mobilization in sandy or saline groundwater areas. RangeFixup applied 2026-03-21 22:21 UTC: LowerBound: 30 → 15; OptimalRangeLow: 15 → 30; OptimalRangeHigh: 70 → 45; UpperBound: 45 → 70 [Migration] Original wider evidence range: 15 – 70 (retained OptimalRange: 30 – 45)