Bare Ground — Benchmark Detail

Benchmark Value

50 %

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 50

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: UpperThreshold

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 13 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 12 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Persistent bare ground exceeding 50% is proposed as an upper detrimental threshold.

Metric Definition:

Bare Ground (%)

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark sets 50% bare ground as an upper detrimental threshold indicating severe land degradation and high erosion risk in agricultural crop production within the Australian Alpine and Subalpine Complex.

Justification:

Based on GRDC recommendations for minimum ground cover to reduce erosion risk and observations of severe vegetation loss in post-fire recovery studies.

Sources (1)

Preview of Wahren, C-H., Williams, R.J. & Papst, W.A. (2001). Early post-fire regeneration in subalpine heathland and grassland in the Victorian Alpine National Park, south-eastern Australia

Wahren, C-H., Williams, R.J. & Papst, W.A. (2001). Early post-fire regeneration in subalpine heathland and grassland in the Victorian Alpine National Park, south-eastern Australia GreyLiterature

MANAGING ERODED SOILS - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), accessed on May 29, 2025

View Source

Supporting Sources (8)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Alpine Grazing Taskforce. (2005). Report of the Alpine Grazing Taskforce. Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria.

Contextual Support Journal

Effects of grazing on alpine grassland soil available nutrients across the Tibetan Plateau

View Source

Caring for our Australian Alps Catchments, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Patterns of variation in Australian alpine soils and their relationships to parent material, vegetation formation, climate and t, accessed May 27, 2025

View Source

Dynamic Modelling of Water and Wind Erosion in Australia over the Past Two Decades - MDPI, accessed on May 29, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Dynamic Modelling of Water and Wind Erosion in Australia over the Past Two Decades - MDPI, accessed on May 29, 2025

View Source

Estimating ground cover percentage - DCCEEW, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source Government

Biodiversity Conservation Trust Livestock grazing guidelines, accessed April 29, 2025,

View Source

Nature and biodiversity | Australian Alps National Parks

Contextual Support Government

theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on June 5, 2025

View Source

Regenerative agriculture reduces fuel and fertiliser bill for Mulgowie ..., accessed on May 29, 2025

Contextual Support

Regenerative agriculture reduces fuel and fertiliser bill for Mulgowie ..., accessed on May 29, 2025

View Source

theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Phosphorus Nutrition of Proteaceae in Severely Phosphorus-Impoverished Soils: Are There Lessons To Be Learned for Future Crops? - PubMed Central

View Source

Tracking progress | Goulburn Broken Regional Catchment Strategy

Contextual Support

Tracking progress | Goulburn Broken Regional Catchment Strategy, accessed on May 29, 2025

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 26 May 2026

Notes

At this level, the land is considered severely degraded, signifying high erosion rates and substantial loss of soil function. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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