Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-AIF-FOR-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 30 to 120 mm/hr
Optimal Range: 30 to 120
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

Reference values for other key soil types found within the floodplain system include: Sandy Loams (e.g., Red-Brown Earths/Chromosols): Typically found on levees and higher ground, these soils have intrinsically higher infiltration rates. A healthy range is given as 30–120 mm/day.

Metric Definition:

Soil Water Infiltration Rate as the final infiltration rate for healthy sandy-loam to light clay loam soils (Chromosols).

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the final infiltration rate for healthy sandy-loam to light clay loam soils in the Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems biome under production forestry land use.

Justification:

Represents healthy sandy-loam to light clay loam soils found on levees and higher ground.

Sources (1)

Preview of Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Infiltration
Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Infiltration Journal

Appendix H - Water Infiltration Modelling - NTEPA

View Source

Supporting Sources (30)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 2.7.3.1 'Floodplain or lowland riverine' landscape group - Bioregional Assessments |
2.7.3.1 'Floodplain or lowland riverine' landscape group - Bioregional Assessments |
Contextual Support Journal

Managing soils - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 8, 2025,

View Source
Preview of ABARES report reaffirms sustainability, sovereign capability and climate credentials of Australian native forestry, accessed August 10, 2025,
ABARES report reaffirms sustainability, sovereign capability and climate credentials of Australian native forestry, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Review of fertiliser use in Australian forestry - Forest & Wood Products Australia

View Source
Preview of An Event-Based Approach to the Hydrology of Arid Zone Rivers in the Channel Country of Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate
An Event-Based Approach to the Hydrology of Arid Zone Rivers in the Channel Country of Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

An Event-Based Approach to the Hydrology of Arid Zone Rivers in the Channel Country of Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Arid Swamps | WetlandInfo, accessed August 1, 2025,
Arid Swamps | WetlandInfo, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Arid Swamps | WetlandInfo

View Source
Preview of Australia's State of the Forests Report
Australia's State of the Forests Report
Contextual Support

Australia's State of the Forests Report

View Source
Preview of Australia's State of the Forests Report, accessed August 12, 2025
Australia's State of the Forests Report, accessed August 12, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Change in Organic Carbon in Forest Plantation Soils in Eastern ..., accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC
Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC
Contextual Support Journal

Extensive Management Promotes Plant and Microbial Nitrogen Retention in Temperate Grassland | PLOS One - Research journals

View Source
Preview of Chapter 10 Land management on flood plains - Queensland Government publications
Chapter 10 Land management on flood plains - Queensland Government publications
Contextual Support Journal

Landscape Function Analysis: A System for Monitoring Rangeland ...

View Source
Preview of CO₂ sink to source: Arid Australia's climate and rainfall driven tipping points
CO₂ sink to source: Arid Australia's climate and rainfall driven tipping points
Contextual Support Government

Learning More About Ephemeral Creeks | Flow-MER

View Source
Preview of Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis
Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis
Contextual Support Journal

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

View Source
Preview of Description of Ecological Communities: Arid Eucalypt Woodlands - DCCEEW
Description of Ecological Communities: Arid Eucalypt Woodlands - DCCEEW
Contextual Support Journal

Description of Ecological Communities: Arid Eucalypt Woodlands - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of DISPERSIVE SOIL MANUAL - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC)
DISPERSIVE SOIL MANUAL - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC)
Contextual Support Journal

DISPERSIVE SOIL MANUAL - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC)

View Source
Preview of Hydraulic Failure Defines the Recovery and Point of Death in Water-Stressed Conifers | Plant Physiology | Oxford Academic
Hydraulic Failure Defines the Recovery and Point of Death in Water-Stressed Conifers | Plant Physiology | Oxford Academic
Contextual Support Journal

Hydraulic Failure Defines the Recovery and Point of Death in Water-Stressed Conifers | Plant Physiology | Oxford Academic

View Source
Preview of Improved forest management - CSIRO, accessed July 12, 2025,
Improved forest management - CSIRO, accessed July 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Ecosystem wicks: Woodland trees enhance water infiltration in a fragmented agricultural landscape in eastern Australia, accessed May 15, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Infiltration, accessed July 6, 2025,
Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Infiltration, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

risks and impacts of plant industries on soil condition - Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

View Source
Preview of Investigating Plant Responses to Water Stress via Plant Hydraulics Pathway - EGUsphere
Investigating Plant Responses to Water Stress via Plant Hydraulics Pathway - EGUsphere
Contextual Support Journal

Investigating Plant Responses to Water Stress via Plant Hydraulics Pathway - EGUsphere

View Source
Preview of Nationally consistent mapping of wildland fuel types across Australia using satellite-derived vegetation structural data - CSIRO Publishing
Nationally consistent mapping of wildland fuel types across Australia using satellite-derived vegetation structural data - CSIRO Publishing
Contextual Support Journal

Innovative Forestry and Forest Industries Research in Australia

View Source
Preview of Protection of Lake Eyre Basin rivers and floodplains - Queensland Environment Department
Protection of Lake Eyre Basin rivers and floodplains - Queensland Environment Department
Regulatory Framework Government

Protection of Lake Eyre Basin rivers and floodplains - Queensland Environment Department

View Source
Preview of Quantifying water requirements of riparian river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia: Implications for the management of environmental flows - USGS Publications Warehouse
Quantifying water requirements of riparian river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia: Implications for the management of environmental flows - USGS Publications Warehouse
Contextual Support Government

Quantifying water requirements of riparian river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia: Implications for the management of environmental flows - USGS Publications Warehouse

View Source
Preview of Rangeland Soil Quality: Infiltration - Natural Resources ...
Rangeland Soil Quality: Infiltration - Natural Resources ...
Contextual Support Journal

RIvER RED guMs AND wooDLAND FoREsts - Natural Resources Commission

View Source
Preview of River red gum – more than just a tree - CSIROpedia
River red gum – more than just a tree - CSIROpedia
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

River red gum – more than just a tree - CSIROpedia

View Source
Preview of River red gums | Environment and Heritage
River red gums | Environment and Heritage
Contextual Support Journal

Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment

View Source
Preview of Riverine soils: a guide to the soils of the Lower Murrumbidgee Floodplain
Riverine soils: a guide to the soils of the Lower Murrumbidgee Floodplain
Direct Evidence Journal

Riverine soils: a guide to the soils of the Lower Murrumbidgee Floodplain

View Source
Preview of Role of soil drying in nitrogen mineralization and microbial community function in semi-arid grasslands of North-West Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Role of soil drying in nitrogen mineralization and microbial community function in semi-arid grasslands of North-West Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Contextual Support

Microbial impact on initial soil formation in arid and semiarid environments under simulated climate change - Frontiers, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment, accessed August 10, 2025,
Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Analysing water sensitive urban design options - Australian Water Association

View Source
Preview of State Soils - Soil Science Australia
State Soils - Soil Science Australia
Contextual Support Journal

The-Potential-Use-for-Groundwater-Use-by-Vegetation-in-the-Aust.-Arid-Zone.pdf - Northern Territory Government

View Source
Preview of The floodplain inundation history of the Murray-Darling Basin through two-monthly maximum water depth maps - PMC
The floodplain inundation history of the Murray-Darling Basin through two-monthly maximum water depth maps - PMC
Contextual Support Journal

The floodplain inundation history of the Murray-Darling Basin through two-monthly maximum water depth maps - PMC

View Source
Preview of The-Potential-Use-for-Groundwater-Use-by-Vegetation-in-the-Aust.-Arid-Zone.pdf - Northern Territory Government
The-Potential-Use-for-Groundwater-Use-by-Vegetation-in-the-Aust.-Arid-Zone.pdf - Northern Territory Government
Contextual Support Journal

Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived ...

View Source
Preview of Understanding Water Movement Throughout Different Soil Profiles ..., accessed July 6, 2025,
Understanding Water Movement Throughout Different Soil Profiles ..., accessed July 6, 2025,
Methodology Source Journal

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Understanding Water Movement Throughout Different Soil Profiles Across the Upper North
Understanding Water Movement Throughout Different Soil Profiles Across the Upper North
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Restoration of degraded grazing country in the semi-arid areas of NSW

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 3 Jun 2026

Notes

Higher infiltration rates typical of these soil types compared to cracking clays.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AIF-FOR-SWI family.

— mm/hr Moderate
Production Forestry · Conservation Target
OptimalRange Active v1
0.5 mm/hr Moderate
Production Forestry · Conservation Target
MinimumOnly Active v1