Bare Ground — Benchmark Detail

Benchmark Value

50 %

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: MaximumOnly

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 5 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 4 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Maintaining at least 70% cover (i.e., ≤30% bare ground) outside of very brief establishment windows for cash crops is a widely accepted minimum for preventing significant erosion and sustaining soil health in many agricultural systems.

Metric Definition:

Bare Ground (%)

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents a maximum threshold of 30% bare ground, above which ecological health is compromised and soil degradation risks increase in Tropical Monsoonal Savannas agricultural cropping systems.

Justification:

Derived by analogy from grazing land guidelines (min. 70% cover for erosion control). Exceeding 30% bare ground for extended periods likely leads to significant soil erosion, reduced water infiltration, and compromised soil health, impacting long-term sustainability.

Sources (3)

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 Journal

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

View Source

Final report - MLA, accessed July 19, 2025,

Queensland Government target of 70% late dry season ground cover for grazing lands 13

View Source

Preview of Regenerative Agriculture - a literature review on the practices and mechanisms used to improve soil health - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 5, 2025,

Regenerative Agriculture - a literature review on the practices and mechanisms used to improve soil health - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 5, 2025,

Regenerative Land Management - HEALTHY SOILS AUSTRALIA

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Grazing-management-for-soil-carbon-in-Australia-A-review.pdf - University of Tasmania, accessed April 29, 2025,

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 2
Effective From 22 Mar 2026

Notes

Exceeding 30% bare ground for extended periods in TMS cropping systems is highly likely to lead to increased soil erosion by wind and water, reduced water infiltration and storage, higher and more variable soil temperatures, accelerated decomposition and loss of soil organic matter, and a decline in soil biological activity and diversity. ConsistencyResolver applied 2026-03-23 00:16 UTC: BenchmarkValue 30 → 50 (check: MinAboveMax, rationale: Swapping the MaximumOnly threshold to 50 aligns with the note stating 'exceeding 50% indicates severe degradation' and resolves the MinAboveMax contradiction.)

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMS-AGR-BAR family.