Soil Moisture

AUS-AKW-LVG-SMO General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 4 to — %
Thresholds: Lower: 4, Upper: —
Optimal Range: 4 to —
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: CompositeFramework

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

No credible quantitative value found. A qualitative benchmark is proposed: "Sustained topsoil moisture levels that are demonstrably higher than equivalent unmanaged or continuously grazed land, reflecting enhanced water infiltration and retention due to high ground cover and soil organic matter."

Metric Definition:

Volumetric Water Content (VWC) as a measure of soil moisture in the topsoil layer.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents soil moisture in the topsoil measured as volumetric water content, indicating water available for plants in the Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands under livestock grazing and pasture. It reflects improved water infiltration and retention due to high ground cover and soil organic matter.

Justification:

No direct field measurements exist for best-practice grazing in this specific Australian biome. The benchmark is derived from the principle, supported by evidence, that regenerative grazing improves soil moisture relative to other states.

Sources (3)

Preview of A global dataset of remote sensing-based soil critical point and permanent wilting point
A global dataset of remote sensing-based soil critical point and permanent wilting point Journal

A global dataset of remote sensing-based soil critical point and permanent wilting point

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Effect of Grazing Treatment on Soil Moisture in Semiarid Rangelands - ISU's GIS TReC GreyLiterature

Effect of Grazing Treatment on Soil Moisture in Semiarid Rangelands - ISU's GIS TReC

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Preview of NVIS Fact sheet MVG 22 – Chenopod shrublands, samphire shrublands and forblands - DCCEEW, accessed July 24, 2025
NVIS Fact sheet MVG 22 – Chenopod shrublands, samphire shrublands and forblands - DCCEEW, accessed July 24, 2025 Journal

Some Characteristics of Calcareous soils. A review A.S. Taalab1, G.W. Ageeb2, Hanan S. Siam1 and Safaa A. Mahmoud1 - CURRENT RESEARCH WEB, accessed July 26, 2025,

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Supporting Sources (27)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of A global meta-analysis of livestock grazing impacts on soil properties - PubMed
A global meta-analysis of livestock grazing impacts on soil properties - PubMed
Contextual Support MetaAnalysis

A global meta-analysis of livestock grazing impacts on soil properties - PubMed

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Preview of Australia's bioregions (IBRA) - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025
Australia's bioregions (IBRA) - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support

Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA), Version 7 (Regions), accessed July 12, 2025,

View Source
Preview of AUSTRALIAN chenopod shrublands - Ecosystem Guides, accessed July 27, 2025
AUSTRALIAN chenopod shrublands - Ecosystem Guides, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Arid shrublands (Chenopod sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science

View Source
Preview of Can simple, on-ground vegetation and soil measures reliably indicate the health of rangelands? An application in Australia's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 30, 2025
Can simple, on-ground vegetation and soil measures reliably indicate the health of rangelands? An application in Australia's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

on-ground vegetation and soil measures reliably indicate the health of rangelands? An application in Australia's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing

View Source
Preview of Chenopod shrublands, samphire shrublands - Australian Vegetation - Australian National Botanic Gardens
Chenopod shrublands, samphire shrublands - Australian Vegetation - Australian National Botanic Gardens
Contextual Support Journal

Chenopod shrublands, samphire shrublands - Australian Vegetation - Australian National Botanic Gardens

View Source
Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from, accessed August 5, 2025,
Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support

The effect of climate change on pastoralism in the Australian arid and semi-arid rangelands - Nuffield Farming Scholarships, accessed July 29, 2025,

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Preview of Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 10, 2025,
Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Boom and bust for biodiversity in arid Australia

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Preview of Great Western Woodlands SuperSite | Climate Change Impacts - TERN Australia, accessed July 10, 2025,
Great Western Woodlands SuperSite | Climate Change Impacts - TERN Australia, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

URBAN FOREST STRATEGY - Your Say South Perth, accessed July 13, 2025

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Preview of Hans Lambers Editor - On the Ecology of Australia's Arid Zone - eScholarship, accessed July 6, 2025,
Hans Lambers Editor - On the Ecology of Australia's Arid Zone - eScholarship, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

NVIS Fact sheet MVG 19 – Tussock grasslands

View Source
Preview of Karst | Geoscience Australia, accessed July 26, 2025,
Karst | Geoscience Australia, accessed July 26, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Nullarbor Karst - The Western Australian Speleological Group, accessed July 23, 2025

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Preview of Karst wetlands - WetlandInfo, accessed July 26, 2025,
Karst wetlands - WetlandInfo, accessed July 26, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Karst wetlands - WetlandInfo, accessed July 26, 2025,

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Preview of Management of grazing intensity in the semi-arid rangelands of Southern Australia: Effects on soil and biodiversity - Charles Sturt University Research Output
Management of grazing intensity in the semi-arid rangelands of Southern Australia: Effects on soil and biodiversity - Charles Sturt University Research Output
Contextual Support Journal

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from

View Source
Preview of Management of grazing intensity in the semi-arid rangelands of Southern Australia: Effects on soil and biodiversity - Charles Sturt University Research Output
Management of grazing intensity in the semi-arid rangelands of Southern Australia: Effects on soil and biodiversity - Charles Sturt University Research Output
Contextual Support Journal

Management of grazing intensity in the semi-arid rangelands of Southern Australia: Effects on soil and biodiversity - Charles Sturt University Research Output

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Preview of Mechanisms of Waterlogging Tolerance in Plants: Research Progress and Prospects - PMC
Mechanisms of Waterlogging Tolerance in Plants: Research Progress and Prospects - PMC
Contextual Support

Effect of Waterlogging and Drought Stress in Plants - IDOSI

View Source
Preview of National Guidelines for Water Quality - Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, accessed July 25, 2025,
National Guidelines for Water Quality - Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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

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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

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Preview of Plant available water capacity of dryland cropping soils in the south-eastern Australia, accessed August 6, 2025
Plant available water capacity of dryland cropping soils in the south-eastern Australia, accessed August 6, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Water Holding Characteristics | UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

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Preview of Prediction of Soil Field Capacity and Permanent Wilting Point Using Accessible Parameters by Machine Learning - MDPI
Prediction of Soil Field Capacity and Permanent Wilting Point Using Accessible Parameters by Machine Learning - MDPI
Methodology Source Journal

Prediction of Soil Field Capacity and Permanent Wilting Point Using Accessible Parameters by Machine Learning - MDPI

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Preview of Rangeland condition: its meaning and use - a discussion paper - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025
Rangeland condition: its meaning and use - a discussion paper - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Rangeland condition: its meaning and use - a discussion paper - DCCEEW, accessed July 22, 2025

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Preview of Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA
Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed July 11, 2025,

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Preview of Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 25, 2025
Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

A survey comparing regeneratively and conventionally managed ..., accessed July 28, 2025,

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Preview of Regenerative Grazing: 3 Different Approaches - Shorthandstories.com, accessed August 5, 2025,
Regenerative Grazing: 3 Different Approaches - Shorthandstories.com, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative Grazing: 3 Different Approaches - Shorthandstories.com

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Preview of Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review, accessed July 18, 2025,
Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support

Grazing Practices and Soil Moisture | National Drought Mitigation Center

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Preview of Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW Department of Primary Industries
Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW Department of Primary Industries
Contextual Support Government

Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW Department of Primary Industries

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Preview of Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed August 6, 2025,
Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed August 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

The water quality and economic benefits of agricultural management practices

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Preview of The South-East Karst Province, its regions and geology. CF = Caroline... - ResearchGate
The South-East Karst Province, its regions and geology. CF = Caroline... - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

Overview of Australian Karst areas

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Preview of Water available in soil, accessed July 7, 2025,
Water available in soil, accessed July 7, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

A review of soil waterlogging impacts, mechanisms, and adaptive strategies - Frontiers

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Functional Range: A Lower Critical Threshold exists at the Permanent Wilting Point, estimated at ~4% VWC. An Upper Detrimental Threshold also exists, where prolonged waterlogging creates anaerobic conditions harmful to the biome's characteristic vegetation. The Optimal Range is conceptually between these thresholds, maintained by management that maximizes infiltration without causing waterlogging.