Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-TGP-AGR-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 50 to 70 mm/hr

Optimal Range: 50 to 70

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

The primary benchmark, representing a state of high ecological function for medium-textured soils (loams to sandy loams) under regenerative management, is identified as 50 - 70 mm/hr.

Metric Definition:

Soil Water Infiltration Rate is the rate at which water enters the soil profile, governing the health and resilience of terrestrial ecosystems.

Benchmark Definition:

The rate of water infiltration into medium-textured soils under best-practice regenerative agricultural management.

Justification:

Derived from field observations in well-structured cropping paddocks within the Australian wheatbelt, representing a high ecological function state.

Sources (1)

Preview of Soil Water - Tas | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed August 4, 2025,

Soil Water - Tas | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed August 4, 2025, Government

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

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Supporting Sources (12)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

A Benchmarking Approach to Assess Soil Health - SHI, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 16, 2025,

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Border-check irrigation design | Irrigation | Water | Farm ...

Direct Evidence Journal

Border-check irrigation design | Irrigation | Water | Farm ...

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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

Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis | PLOS One - Research journals

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

Contextual Support Government

Healthy soils and water infiltration in the paddock

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Preview of Nitrate leaching from temperate perennial pastures grazed by dairy cows in south-eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 8, 2025

Nitrate leaching from temperate perennial pastures grazed by dairy cows in south-eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Nitrate leaching from temperate perennial pastures grazed by dairy cows in south-eastern Australia - ResearchGate

View Source

Preview of Opportunities and Challenges for Cover Cropping in Sustainable Agriculture Systems in Southern Australia - MDPI, accessed July 18, 2025,

Opportunities and Challenges for Cover Cropping in Sustainable Agriculture Systems in Southern Australia - MDPI, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Developments in stubble retention in cropping systems in southern Australia, accessed July 27, 2025

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,

Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed July 20, 2025,

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Renovating damaged pastures and soils | Managing wet soils | Dairy | Livestock and animals | Agriculture Victoria

Contextual Support Government

Renovating damaged pastures and soils | Managing wet soils | Dairy | Livestock and animals | Agriculture Victoria

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Soil Health AssessmentGuide - Soils For Life

Methodology Source

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

View Source

Soil Health, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Health, accessed August 4, 2025

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TERN – Australian Acoustic Observatory | A2O, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

TERN – Australian Acoustic Observatory | A2O

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Water repellent soils - CSIRO

Contextual Support Government

Water repellent soils - CSIRO

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Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 2
Effective From 3 Jun 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. This range represents the best available condition achievable under regenerative management for loamy soils. It is a measured average from soils with high structural integrity.

Related Benchmarks

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