Soil Water Infiltration Rate

Benchmark Value

50 mm/hr

Range: 50 to — mm/hr

Thresholds: Lower: 10, Upper: —

Optimal Range: 50 to —

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: MinimumOnly

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

The reference value of 50 mm/hr represents the steady-state infiltration rate for a highly functional, vegetated 'patch' on Calcareous Loam soils, which are dominant in this biome.

Metric Definition:

Soil Water Infiltration Rate as the steady-state infiltration rate in highly functional vegetated patches on Calcareous Loam soils.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the steady-state soil water infiltration rate in highly functional vegetated patches on Calcareous Loam soils within the Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands biome under livestock grazing. It indicates the soil's capacity to absorb water effectively in this context.

Justification:

This benchmark is derived from direct field measurements in Australian rangelands that distinguish between functional (49.2 mm/hr) and dysfunctional (7.8 mm/hr) landscape patches, corroborated by studies in analogous semi-arid woodlands and grass steppes.

Sources (1)

Using a landscape functional approach to soil health Journal

Using a landscape functional approach to soil health

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Supporting Sources (5)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Healthy soils and water infiltration in the paddock - Local Land Services - NSW Government

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Healthy soils and water infiltration in the paddock - Local Land Services - NSW Government

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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

Cross Reference 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 Observations of soil moisture and infiltrability in contour-aligned, banded chenopod shrubland at Fowlers Gap, arid western NSW, Australia

Observations of soil moisture and infiltrability in contour-aligned, banded chenopod shrubland at Fowlers Gap, arid western NSW, Australia

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

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