Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-TDG-LVG-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

5 mm/hr

Thresholds: Lower: 5, Upper: —

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: LowerThreshold

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

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

Evidence from modelling studies in temperate Australian conditions (Southern Tablelands) suggests that hydrological function is significantly compromised when the soil's capacity to infiltrate water (specifically, saturated hydraulic conductivity, Ks, which approximates steady-state SWIR) drops below levels of approximately 5 mm/hr, or even as low as 2.5 mm/hr, particularly where surface crusts or subsurface compaction layers (like plough pans) exist.

Metric Definition:

Soil Water Infiltration Rate (SWIR) quantifies the rate at which water enters the soil profile at the surface.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines a critical lower threshold for soil water infiltration rate below which hydrological function is significantly impaired in temperate Australian grazing lands. It indicates degraded soil conditions associated with surface crusting or compaction.

Justification:

Evidence clearly indicates critical low thresholds associated with degradation.

Sources (1)

Soil structure, soil hydraulic properties and the soil water balance - ResearchGate

View Source

Supporting Sources (7)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

(PDF) Final report Scoping Study of Soil Management in Livestock ..., accessed May 12, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Final report Scoping Study of Soil Management in Livestock ..., accessed May 12, 2025

View Source

(PDF) Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review - ResearchGate, accessed May 12, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Soil compaction controls the abundance, biomass and distribution of earthworms in a single dairy farm in south-eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed May 12, 2025

View Source

Adaptive multi-paddock grazing improves water infiltration in Canadian grassland soils | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

Adaptive multi-paddock grazing improves water infiltration in Canadian grassland soils | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 12, 2025

View Source

Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

Ludwig, J.A., Bastin, G.N., Chewings, V.H., Eager, R.W., and Liedloff, A.C. (2005). Clearing savannas for use as rangelands in Queensland: Altered landscapes and water-erosion processes. Rangeland Journal, 27(2), 135-149.

View Source

Removing Grazing Pressure from a Native Pasture Decreases Soil Organic Carbon in Southern New South Wales, Australia - ResearchGate

Contextual Support

Removing Grazing Pressure from a Native Pasture Decreases Soil Organic Carbon in Southern New South Wales, Australia - ResearchGate

View Source

Significance of terms used to predict the effect of rainfall and herbage mass on runoff, accessed May 12, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Significance of terms used to predict the effect of rainfall and herbage mass on runoff, accessed May 12, 2025

View Source

Preview of SNOWY MOUNTAIN FORESTED HILLSLOPE SOIL CHARACTERISATION, SOIL HYDROLOGICAL PROPERTIES AND SOIL GEOCHEMISTRY PROGRAM (Data derived from research linked to Save our Snow Gum (SOSG) project and Australian Mountain Research Facility (AMRF))

SNOWY MOUNTAIN FORESTED HILLSLOPE SOIL CHARACTERISATION, SOIL HYDROLOGICAL PROPERTIES AND SOIL GEOCHEMISTRY PROGRAM (Data derived from research linked to Save our Snow Gum (SOSG) project and Australian Mountain Research Facility (AMRF))

Direct Evidence Journal

Dynamics of Sudanian Savanna-Woodland Ecosystem in Response to Disturbances - - Administrative page for SLU library, accessed May 12, 2025

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 24 Mar 2026

Notes

A steady-state SWIR consistently falling within the range of < 5-10 mm/hr can be considered indicative of a degraded soil state, incompatible with the goal of 'high environmental health' and sustainable grazing in this biome.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TDG-LVG-SWI family.