Bare Ground
Benchmark Value
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 4 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 3 guard(s) constrain the result.
Contributing Benchmarks
Evidence & Context
the proposed reference value for Bare Ground (%) is: ≤10-20% Bare Ground during the most vulnerable periods of the cropping cycle (e.g., post-harvest, pre-establishment of the next cash or cover crop). Aiming for ≤10% Bare Ground (ideally approaching 0-5%) during the active growth phases of cash crops or cover crops in well-managed regenerative systems.
Bare Ground (%) is an ecological indicator representing the proportion of the soil surface that is exposed, lacking cover from living vegetation, plant residues (litter), or other protective materials such as stones or dung.
Reference value representing the 'best available condition' in regenerative cropping systems within Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands.
This range reflects a state where the soil is maximally protected from erosion, organic matter inputs are optimized, water infiltration is enhanced, soil temperature is moderated, and the system demonstrates a strong adherence to the principles of regenerative agriculture.
Sources (4)
Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ...
View SourceDeveloping robust ground cover - Mallee Sustainable Farming
View Source
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia
View SourceGround cover monitoring for Australia - DAFF
View SourceSupporting Sources (23)
Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.
section 2 water quality in the darwin region - Environment and Natural Resources
View SourceAn assessment of the accuracy of satellite-derived woody and grass foliage cover estimates for Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed May 14, 2025
View Source
Buffel grass in Queensland's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 13, 2025
View Source
Mapping ground cover management - DAFF
View SourceChange tillage practices - Conservation Evidence, accessed May 11, 2025
View SourceCover crops suppress fallow weeds and support profitable grain crops - WeedSmart
View SourceDeveloping robust ground cover - Mallee Sustainable Farming, accessed May 11, 2025
View SourceRestore the Soil: Prosper the Nation
View Source
Featuring - Mallee Catchment Management Authority, accessed May 11, 2025
View SourceAustralia state of the environment 2021: land
View SourceGrazing-management-for-soil-carbon-in-Australia-A-review.pdf - University of Tasmania, accessed April 29, 2025,
View SourceImpacts of Agricultural Management Practices on Soil Health - NCBI, accessed August 28, 2025
View SourceFINAL SUMMARY 2024 - Mallee Sustainable Farming
View SourceLitchfield Savanna SuperSite | Fire Regime Impact | TERN | NT
View SourceGround Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed July 20, 2025,
View SourceMonitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion - Agriculture Victoria
View Source
Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI
View SourceRegenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed July 20, 2025,
View SourceRegenerative opportunities for building soil biological resilience – a case study in the low-rainfall zone in Southern Australia - GRDC
View SourceReport Highlights Benefits of Minimizing Bare Soil in Regenerative Agriculture - Seed World, accessed May 11, 2025
View SourceSaving our soil health through regenerative farming - The Farmer ..., accessed May 11, 2025
View SourceView of Efficacy of the Ecosystem Services Approach in Transitioning to Regenerative Agriculture in Australia | Reinvention, accessed August 5, 2025
View SourceHow Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers
View Source