Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-AKW-AGR-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

70 mm/hr
Range: 70 to 70 mm/hr
Thresholds: Lower: 10, Upper: —
Optimal Range: 70 to 70
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 3 benchmarks together — the Point form drives the primary score, while 2 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

Point Primary LowerThreshold Guard MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The value of ~70 mm/hr represents the measured steady-state infiltration rate within a healthy, well-established mulga (Acacia aneura) grove in an Australian arid environment.

Metric Definition:

Soil Water Infiltration Rate is the rate at which water enters the soil surface, measured as mm per hour.

Benchmark Definition:

Soil water infiltration rate is the rate at which water enters the soil surface, critical for ecosystem water balance and agricultural viability in arid karstic woodlands and shrublands.

Justification:

This benchmark is a scientifically-defended proxy derived from a high-functioning native ecosystem analogue. The mulga grove functions as an 'island of fertility' with enhanced biological activity and soil structure, representing the target condition achievable under long-term regenerative cropping management.

Sources (3)

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
Preview of Nullarbor Karst - The Western Australian Speleological Group
Nullarbor Karst - The Western Australian Speleological Group Journal

Rapid internal drainage rates in Ferrosols - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Soil Research

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, Journal

Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 28, 2025,

View Source

Supporting Sources (26)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of An inventory and condition survey of the Western Australian part of the Nullarbor region - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed July 25, 2025
An inventory and condition survey of the Western Australian part of the Nullarbor region - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support Government

An inventory and condition survey of the Western Australian part of the Nullarbor region - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed July 26, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Australian Soil Classification edition 3 - CALCAROSOLS, accessed July 26, 2025
Australian Soil Classification edition 3 - CALCAROSOLS, accessed July 26, 2025
Contextual Support

ASC - RUDOSOLS - Soil Science Australia

View Source
Preview of Cave - Karst, Terrain, Distribution | Britannica
Cave - Karst, Terrain, Distribution | Britannica
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

"An inventory and condition survey of the Western Australian part of ...

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
Preview of Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis, accessed July 6, 2025,
Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis, accessed July 6, 2025,
Methodology Source Journal

Ecology | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government

View Source
Preview of Crop sequences in Western Australia: what are they and are they sustainable? Findings of a four-year survey - ResearchGate
Crop sequences in Western Australia: what are they and are they sustainable? Findings of a four-year survey - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture reviewed - Western Australian Government, accessed July 8, 2025

View Source
Preview of CSIRO Research Publications Repository - Home Page, accessed July 6, 2025,
CSIRO Research Publications Repository - Home Page, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis

View Source
Preview of Exploring the Critical Role of Water in Regenerative Agriculture; Building Promises and Avoiding Pitfalls - Frontiers
Exploring the Critical Role of Water in Regenerative Agriculture; Building Promises and Avoiding Pitfalls - Frontiers
Contextual Support Journal

Exploring the Critical Role of Water in Regenerative Agriculture; Building Promises and Avoiding Pitfalls - Frontiers

View Source
Preview of Geology of the Nullarbor Plain (Webb and James 2006; courtesy JA Webb). - ResearchGate, accessed July 26, 2025,
Geology of the Nullarbor Plain (Webb and James 2006; courtesy JA Webb). - ResearchGate, accessed July 26, 2025,
Contextual Support

Report 119: Cenozoic evolution of the Nullarbor Plain paleokarst, southern Australia - NET, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of Influence of Tillage and Cropping Systems on Soil Properties and Crop Performance under Semi-Arid Conditions - MDPI
Influence of Tillage and Cropping Systems on Soil Properties and Crop Performance under Semi-Arid Conditions - MDPI
Contextual Support Journal

Influence of Tillage and Cropping Systems on Soil Properties and Crop Performance under Semi-Arid Conditions - MDPI

View Source
Preview of Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Infiltration Infiltration Management - USDA, accessed July 7, 2025
Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Infiltration Infiltration Management - USDA, accessed July 7, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Soil Health Assessment of Two Regenerative Farming Practices on Sandy Soils

View Source
Preview of Karst and agriculture in Australia - Digital Commons @ USF, accessed July 22, 2025,
Karst and agriculture in Australia - Digital Commons @ USF, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Karst and caves | Land and Soil - Environment and Heritage - NSW Government, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Management of Calcareous Soils in Arid Region - IJEPEM
Management of Calcareous Soils in Arid Region - IJEPEM
Contextual Support Journal

Management of Calcareous Soils in Arid Region - IJEPEM

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025
Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Soil potassium—crop response calibration relationships and ..., accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor Karst - The Western Australian Speleological Group, accessed July 26, 2025,
Nullarbor Karst - The Western Australian Speleological Group, accessed July 26, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The Nullarbor deserves better protection - La Trobe University, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor Plains Xeric Shrublands | One Earth
Nullarbor Plains Xeric Shrublands | One Earth
Contextual Support

MySoil: Calcareous loamy earths (Central North) | Agriculture and Food

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor Plains Xeric Shrublands | One Earth, accessed July 26, 2025,
Nullarbor Plains Xeric Shrublands | One Earth, accessed July 26, 2025,
Contextual Support

State Soils - Soil Science Australia

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers
Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers
Contextual Support Journal

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

View Source
Preview of Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture - MLA
Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture - MLA
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture - MLA

View Source
Preview of Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture - MLA, accessed August 5, 2025,
Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture - MLA, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Spatial distribution of soil microbial activity and soil properties ..., accessed August 13, 2025,

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

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 The effect of soil and pasture attributes on rangeland infiltration rates in northern Australia
The effect of soil and pasture attributes on rangeland infiltration rates in northern Australia
Contextual Support MetaAnalysis

Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis - PubMed

View Source
Preview of Understanding Soil Infiltration - Ideal Geotech, accessed July 7, 2025
Understanding Soil Infiltration - Ideal Geotech, accessed July 7, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Predicting Shifts in Australian Shrublands with Changing Climates and Land Uses - Forest Service

View Source
Preview of Your Complete Nullarbor Guide - Part 1. Ceduna to Nullarbor Roadhouse, accessed July 23, 2025
Your Complete Nullarbor Guide - Part 1. Ceduna to Nullarbor Roadhouse, accessed July 23, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Reading - Australian Earth Science Education

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Vegetation Woodland
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 22 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 10 mm/hr. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Optimal range is 70 mm/hr.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AKW-AGR-SWI family.

10 mm/hr Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Conservation Target · Woodland
MinimumOnly Active v1