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
Proposed Optimal Range: 0-10% Bare Ground for the majority of the year.
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.
Optimal range for bare ground in regenerative cropping systems within Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands.
This range allows for maximal soil protection, water infiltration, organic matter input, and biodiversity support.
Sources (1)
Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ...
View SourceSupporting Sources (26)
Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.
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Buffel grass in Queensland's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 13, 2025
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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
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Featuring - Mallee Catchment Management Authority, accessed May 11, 2025
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View SourceFINAL SUMMARY 2024 - Mallee Sustainable Farming
View SourceLitchfield Savanna SuperSite | Fire Regime Impact | TERN | NT
View SourceDeveloping robust ground cover - Mallee Sustainable Farming
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
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ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia
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 SourceGround cover monitoring for Australia - DAFF
View SourceHow Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers
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