Bare Ground

AUS-TMI-AGR-BAR General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

5 %
Range: 0 to 10 %
Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 10
Optimal Range: 0 to 10
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: Point

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 6 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 5 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

A single reference value of 5% is selected from within the optimal range (0–10%). This value is chosen for several reasons. It represents a state of high ecological function, sitting comfortably at the midpoint of the optimal range. It is ambitious, representing a significant improvement over the conventional Australian cropping average of ~14% bare ground.

Metric Definition:

Bare Ground (%) within the specific context of agricultural crop production on Australia's Tropical and Subtropical Maritime Islands.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the percentage of bare ground in agricultural crop production that reflects the best available ecological condition in Australia's Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands biome, aiming to minimize erosion risk and sustain soil health.

Justification:

The benchmark is derived from foundational principles of regenerative agriculture aiming for near 0% bare ground and quantified ecological risk thresholds indicating that bare ground above 10% presents unacceptable erosion risk.

Sources (2)

Preview of Fact sheet 4: Groundcover
Fact sheet 4: Groundcover GreyLiterature

Annual Report 2021–22 | Mallee CMA, accessed July 23, 2025

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Preview of The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 22, 2025,
The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 22, 2025, Journal

Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries

View Source

Supporting Sources (19)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of A review of the economics of regenerative agriculture in Western Australia - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 4, 2025
A review of the economics of regenerative agriculture in Western Australia - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

A review of the economics of regenerative agriculture in Western Australia - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 5, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management in Victoria, accessed July 19, 2025
Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management in Victoria, accessed July 19, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Soil health: the foundation of sustainable agriculture - 2001 ...

View Source
Preview of Fact sheet 4: Groundcover, accessed July 12, 2025,
Fact sheet 4: Groundcover, accessed July 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed July 27, 2025,
Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed July 27, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Land management for sugarcane farms | Business Queensland, accessed July 16, 2025,
Land management for sugarcane farms | Business Queensland, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Ground cover monitoring methods - Reef Water Quality Report Card 2020, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 22, 2025,
Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Lang, D. (1979). Groundcover for pastures. Journal of Soil Conservation NSW.

View Source
Preview of Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ..., accessed July 27, 2025,
Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ..., accessed July 27, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Farmers helping protect the Great Barrier Reef - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ..., accessed May 11, 2025
Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ..., accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion - Agriculture Victoria, accessed May 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of National Ecosystem Accounts, experimental estimates, 2020-21 financial year, accessed July 27, 2025,
National Ecosystem Accounts, experimental estimates, 2020-21 financial year, accessed July 27, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

National Ecosystem Accounts, experimental estimates, 2020-21 financial year, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Norfolk Island - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,
Norfolk Island - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Norfolk Island - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Pasture management for South East Queensland - FutureBeef, accessed July 19, 2025
Pasture management for South East Queensland - FutureBeef, accessed July 19, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Understanding Soils and Nutrients - Australian Native Plants Society (Australia)

View Source
Preview of Practical tactics to improve ground cover and ensure soil preservation following successive low rainfall seasons, accessed July 27, 2025,
Practical tactics to improve ground cover and ensure soil preservation following successive low rainfall seasons, accessed July 27, 2025,
Contextual Support

Practical tactics to improve ground cover and ensure soil preservation following successive low rainfall seasons, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Regenerative Agriculture | RF - The Rockefeller Foundation, accessed July 27, 2025,
Regenerative Agriculture | RF - The Rockefeller Foundation, accessed July 27, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative Agriculture | RF - The Rockefeller Foundation, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025
Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

NCC: Regenerative Agriculture and Soil Health - Wet Tropics Plan, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil Health and Nutrient Management - Smartcane BMP, accessed July 16, 2025,
Soil Health and Nutrient Management - Smartcane BMP, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Requirements for sugarcane growers | Environment, land and water, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil management for sugarcane - NSW Department of Primary ...
Soil management for sugarcane - NSW Department of Primary ...
Contextual Support Journal

Groundcover essential for healthy soils - Local Land Services - NSW Government, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil management for sugarcane - NSW Department of Primary ..., accessed July 27, 2025,
Soil management for sugarcane - NSW Department of Primary ..., accessed July 27, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil management for sugarcane - NSW Department of Primary ..., accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil management for sustainable agriculture : background papers from a workshop organized by the Research Review Committee of th, accessed July 7, 2025
Soil management for sustainable agriculture : background papers from a workshop organized by the Research Review Committee of th, accessed July 7, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Soil management guides - NSW Department of Primary Industries

View Source
Preview of What We Do - Mulloon Institute, accessed July 27, 2025,
What We Do - Mulloon Institute, accessed July 27, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

What We Do - Mulloon Institute, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

The optimal range is 0-10% bare ground, with >10% indicating elevated erosion risk and >30% indicating a highly degraded state. No lower critical threshold exists; lower bare ground is always better.