Soil Moisture

AUS-TDG-LVG-SMO General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 18 to 35 %
Optimal Range: 18 to 35
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

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.

Evidence & Context

Numerically, for a representative loam soil with a PWP of ~10-15% VWC and an FC of ~25-35% VWC, the optimal range for topsoil moisture during active growing seasons would likely be from approximately 18% VWC to ~35% VWC.

Metric Definition:

Optimal soil moisture range supporting high ecological function and sustainable grazing.

Benchmark Definition:

The optimal soil moisture range supports vigorous native perennial growth, active soil biological processes, and sustainable grazing in temperate dry woodlands and native grasslands under livestock grazing.

Justification:

This range is derived from typical PWP and FC values for loam soils and reflects functional soil moisture during active growing seasons.

Sources (1)

Preview of Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021
Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021 GreyLiterature

Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021

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Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Global critical soil moisture thresholds of plant water stress - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025
Global critical soil moisture thresholds of plant water stress - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025
Direct Evidence Journal

Global critical soil moisture thresholds of plant water stress - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Pasture yield and soil physical property responses to soil compaction from treading and grazing — a review - ANU Open Research
Pasture yield and soil physical property responses to soil compaction from treading and grazing — a review - ANU Open Research
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Pasture yield and soil physical property responses to soil compaction from treading and grazing — a review - ANU Open Research

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 2
  • Effective From 22 Mar 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Management must avoid grazing on soils near FC to prevent damage; the range is dynamic and reflects best-practice grazing management goals.