Litter Cover

AUS-AKW-AGR-LIT General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

70 %
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: Point

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 2 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard

Evidence & Context

The 70% value is derived from Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) research indicating that 2–3 t/ha of stubble, which provides approximately 70% ground cover, is sufficient for effective erosion control and water infiltration in Australian dryland cropping systems.

Metric Definition:

Litter Cover (%)

Benchmark Definition:

Litter cover is the percentage of ground covered by plant litter, which protects soil from erosion and conserves moisture in arid karstic woodlands and shrublands under agricultural crop production.

Justification:

This value balances the critical need for soil protection and moisture conservation against agronomic limitations, based on GRDC research and expert recommendations.

Sources (4)

Preview of Environmental Policy 2013-14 - Nullarbor Links - The World's Longest Golf Course, accessed July 23, 2025,
Environmental Policy 2013-14 - Nullarbor Links - The World's Longest Golf Course, accessed July 23, 2025, Journal

Environmental Policy 2013-14 - Nullarbor Links - The World's Longest Golf Course, accessed July 23, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Managing heavy stubble loads without compromising the big things (weeds, disease, pests, timeliness and profit!) - a decade of stubble management and farming systems experiments
Managing heavy stubble loads without compromising the big things (weeds, disease, pests, timeliness and profit!) - a decade of stubble management and farming systems experiments GreyLiterature

Managing heavy stubble loads without compromising the “big things ..., accessed August 13, 2025

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Preview of Stubble Management Guidelines - Upper North Farming Systems
Stubble Management Guidelines - Upper North Farming Systems Government

Stubble Guidelines - AIR EP, accessed July 23, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Wind erosion | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 23, 2025
Wind erosion | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 23, 2025 Government

Ground cover monitoring for Australia - DAFF

View Source

Supporting Sources (14)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of A vulnerable soil environment study in karst areas: a bibliometric analysis - Frontiers, accessed July 23, 2025,
A vulnerable soil environment study in karst areas: a bibliometric analysis - Frontiers, accessed July 23, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

A vulnerable soil environment study in karst areas: a bibliometric analysis - Frontiers, accessed July 23, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Best Management Practices to Use on Karst and Silurian Soil - Crops and Soils, accessed July 23, 2025,
Best Management Practices to Use on Karst and Silurian Soil - Crops and Soils, accessed July 23, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Australian Soil: Definition, Classification, Types and Quality - Access EP, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Cover Crops for Sustainable Cropping Systems: A Review - MDPI, accessed July 23, 2025,
Cover Crops for Sustainable Cropping Systems: A Review - MDPI, accessed July 23, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

BioCondition: A condition assessment framework for terrestrial biodiversity in Queensland, accessed July 23, 2025,

View Source
Preview of CSIRO Research Publications Repository - Home Page, accessed July 6, 2025,
CSIRO Research Publications Repository - Home Page, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis

View Source
Preview of Geology of the Nullarbor Plain (Webb and James 2006; courtesy JA Webb). - ResearchGate, accessed July 26, 2025,
Geology of the Nullarbor Plain (Webb and James 2006; courtesy JA Webb). - ResearchGate, accessed July 26, 2025,
Contextual Support

Geology of the Nullarbor Plain (Webb and James 2006; courtesy JA Webb). - ResearchGate, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025
Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor Plain - A biography of the Australian continent, accessed July 23, 2025,
Nullarbor Plain - A biography of the Australian continent, accessed July 23, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Nullarbor Plains Xeric Shrublands | One Earth, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of Our natural environments - NSW National Parks, accessed July 23, 2025,
Our natural environments - NSW National Parks, accessed July 23, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Our natural environments - NSW National Parks, accessed July 23, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Regenerative Agriculture - a literature review on the practices and mechanisms used to improve soil health - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 5, 2025,
Regenerative Agriculture - a literature review on the practices and mechanisms used to improve soil health - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support

Regenerative Agriculture Program restoring soil pH case study: Macdonald, Whites Flat/Koppio

View Source
Preview of Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,
Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil toposequences, soil erosion, and ancient Maya land use adaptations to pedodiversity in the tropical karstic landscapes of southern Mexico - Frontiers, accessed July 23, 2025,
Soil toposequences, soil erosion, and ancient Maya land use adaptations to pedodiversity in the tropical karstic landscapes of southern Mexico - Frontiers, accessed July 23, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil toposequences, soil erosion, and ancient Maya land use adaptations to pedodiversity in the tropical karstic landscapes of southern Mexico - Frontiers, accessed July 23, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Stubble management, accessed July 23, 2025,
Stubble management, accessed July 23, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Stubble management, accessed July 23, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Wetlands | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed July 23, 2025,
Wetlands | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed July 23, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Wetlands | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 5 Jun 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 50 %. No upper detrimental threshold specified; issues such as nitrogen tie-up and pest increases occur with stubble loads exceeding 4 t/ha.