Soil Water Infiltration Rate

Benchmark Value

10 mm/hr

Thresholds: Lower: 10, Upper: —

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: LowerThreshold

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 7 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 6 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard LowerThreshold Guard LowerThreshold Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard

Evidence & Context

A rate of less than 10 mm/hr is identified as a lower critical threshold, signifying a tipping point into a stable, degraded state characterized by high runoff, soil erosion, and a loss of productive capacity.

Metric Definition:

Lower critical threshold for Soil Water Infiltration Rate below which ecosystem function is impaired.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the lower critical infiltration rate threshold below which soil function degrades, leading to increased runoff, erosion, and loss of productivity in the Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands biome under livestock grazing.

Justification:

Based on multiple studies showing infiltration rates in degraded patches and bare soils around or below 10 mm/hr, indicating a regime shift to degradation.

Sources (1)

Using a landscape functional approach to soil health Journal

Using a landscape functional approach to soil health

View Source

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

View Source

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