Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-TMS-AGR-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 25 to 150 mm/hr

Optimal Range: 25 to 150

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. The scoring engine uses 11 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 10 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

Proposed Optimal Range: 25 - 150 mm/hr.

Metric Definition:

Soil Water Infiltration Rate (SWIR) as the velocity at which water enters the soil matrix.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents a broader optimal range of soil water infiltration rates indicating good to excellent soil hydrological function under sustainable or regenerative agricultural crop production in Australian Tropical Monsoonal Savannas.

Justification:

This range allows for effective water capture and storage, supports healthy soil biogeochemical processes, and accommodates variations due to soil texture and regenerative practices.

Sources (2)

Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries (NT DAF) (1999) GreyLiterature

Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries (NT DAF) (1999)

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Preview of The effect of soil and pasture attributes on ... - CSIRO Publishing

The effect of soil and pasture attributes on ... - CSIRO Publishing Journal

CSIRO (2016)

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Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Nutrient Loss and Water Quality - Oklahoma State University Extension, accessed July 6, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Nutrient Loss and Water Quality - Oklahoma State University Extension, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. (n.d.). Soil Quality Indicators: Infiltration.

Contextual Support Journal

Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS)

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 2
Effective From 5 Jun 2026

Notes

Movement towards the higher end indicates ongoing improvements in soil physical health and hydrological performance. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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