Bare Ground — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

Benchmark Value

30 %

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: UpperThreshold

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 13 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 12 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

As documented by Lang (1979) and widely applied in land management, soil loss and runoff increase dramatically once ground cover drops below 70% (i.e., bare ground exceeds 30%).

Metric Definition:

Bare Ground (%) represents the percentage of the soil surface not covered by living vegetation or non-living organic litter.

Benchmark Definition:

The point at which runoff and soil loss begin to increase dramatically.

Justification:

Based on the non-linear response of soil to erosive forces where a physical tipping point is reached when ground cover falls below 70%.

Sources (1)

Preview of Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 22, 2025,

Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 22, 2025, Journal

Lang, D. (1979). Groundcover for pastures. Journal of Soil Conservation NSW.

Supporting Sources (31)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 4. Tillage in Horticulture - Agronomy Australia Proceedings, accessed July 18, 2025,

4. Tillage in Horticulture - Agronomy Australia Proceedings, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

4. Tillage in Horticulture - Agronomy Australia Proceedings, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Accumulation of soil carbon under zero tillage cropping and perennial vegetation on the Liverpool Plains, eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025,

Accumulation of soil carbon under zero tillage cropping and perennial vegetation on the Liverpool Plains, eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Accumulation of soil carbon under zero tillage cropping and perennial vegetation on the Liverpool Plains, eastern Australia - ResearchGate

Preview of Agricultural ERA standard for banana cultivation - version 2, accessed July 18, 2025,

Agricultural ERA standard for banana cultivation - version 2, accessed July 18, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Journal

Requirements for graziers | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government

Preview of Benefits and Challenges of Cover Crop Use - Purdue Agriculture, accessed July 18, 2025,

Benefits and Challenges of Cover Crop Use - Purdue Agriculture, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support

Benefits and Challenges of Cover Crop Use - Purdue Agriculture

Preview of Can legumes provide greater benefits than ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 18, 2025,

Can legumes provide greater benefits than ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support

Can legumes provide greater benefits than ... - CSIRO Publishing

Preview of Cavendish Bananas - Banana Growing Guide - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 18, 2025,

Cavendish Bananas - Banana Growing Guide - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Soil Health Program | Boost Sugarcane Productivity

Preview of Ch 10. Cover Crops - SARE, accessed July 18, 2025,

Ch 10. Cover Crops - SARE, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil health for vegetable production in Australia - Department of Primary Industries, Queensland

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 Journal

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.

Preview of Ground Covers and Weed Management for Regenerative Farming and Ranching, accessed July 18, 2025,

Ground Covers and Weed Management for Regenerative Farming and Ranching, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Amberly Farm John and Carol Lilleyman - Soils For Life, accessed July 7, 2025

Preview of High-Residue Cover Crops | AgroClimate, accessed July 18, 2025,

High-Residue Cover Crops | AgroClimate, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Starting / Enhancing Your Regenerative Agriculture Journey

Preview of Impact of Cover Crops on Insect Community Dynamics in Organic Farming - MDPI, accessed July 18, 2025,

Impact of Cover Crops on Insect Community Dynamics in Organic Farming - MDPI, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support

Impact of Cover Crops on Insect Community Dynamics in Organic Farming - MDPI

Preview of Impact of Cover Crops on Natural Enemies and Pests - SARE, accessed July 18, 2025,

Impact of Cover Crops on Natural Enemies and Pests - SARE, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support

Impacts of crop residues on soil health: a review - Taylor & Francis Online

Preview of Impacts of crop residues on soil health: a review - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed July 18, 2025,

Impacts of crop residues on soil health: a review - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support

Impacts of crop residues on soil health: a review - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Landscape rehydration and regenerative agriculture improves soil health, accessed July 30, 2025,

Landscape rehydration and regenerative agriculture improves soil health, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Health and Regenerative Agriculture - Southern Queensland Landscapes, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Monitoring ground cover: an online tool for Australian regions - eo-data.csiro.au, accessed July 18, 2025,

Monitoring ground cover: an online tool for Australian regions - eo-data.csiro.au, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Erosion and sediment yields in the Kakadu region of northern Australia - INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HYDROLOGICAL SCIENCES

Preview of Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ..., accessed May 11, 2025

Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ..., accessed May 11, 2025

Direct Evidence Government

Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion - Agriculture Victoria

Preview of Monitoring groundcover: an online tool for Australian regions - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 18, 2025,

Monitoring groundcover: an online tool for Australian regions - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support

Monitoring ground cover: an online tool for Australian regions - eo-data.csiro.au

Preview of Opportunities and Challenges for Cover Cropping in Sustainable Agriculture Systems in Southern Australia - MDPI, accessed July 18, 2025,

Opportunities and Challenges for Cover Cropping in Sustainable Agriculture Systems in Southern Australia - MDPI, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Developments in stubble retention in cropping systems in southern Australia, accessed July 27, 2025

Preview of Predicting nitrogen cycling and losses in Australian cropping systems - GRDC, accessed July 18, 2025,

Predicting nitrogen cycling and losses in Australian cropping systems - GRDC, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support

Water and Nitrogen Balance in Natural and Agricultural Systems in the Wet Tropics of North Queensland: A Review - Australian Banana Growers' Council

Preview of Rainforests – Australia's green cathedrals - CSIROpedia, accessed July 18, 2025,

Rainforests – Australia's green cathedrals - CSIROpedia, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Tillage in Horticulture - Agronomy Australia Proceedings

Preview of Reducing erosion and other soil degradation in macadamia orchards, accessed July 18, 2025,

Reducing erosion and other soil degradation in macadamia orchards, accessed July 18, 2025,

Irrelevant

Reducing erosion and other soil degradation in macadamia orchards, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Reef protection regulations Banana Erosion and sediment control guide Version 2 - Queensland Government, accessed July 18, 2025,

Reef protection regulations Banana Erosion and sediment control guide Version 2 - Queensland Government, accessed July 18, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Journal

Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Requirements for graziers | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed July 30, 2025,

Requirements for graziers | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed July 30, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Government

Reef protection regulations Grazing guide Version 2 - Queensland Government, accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of Soil Carbon Snapshot - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil Carbon Snapshot - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Carbon Snapshot - Agriculture Victoria

Preview of Soil health for vegetable production in Australia - Department of Primary Industries, Queensland, accessed July 18, 2025,

Soil health for vegetable production in Australia - Department of Primary Industries, Queensland, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ..., accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Soil Health Program | Boost Sugarcane Productivity, accessed July 18, 2025,

Soil Health Program | Boost Sugarcane Productivity, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support

National Soil Strategy, accessed July 16, 2025,

Preview of Soil management in orchards - Archive, accessed July 18, 2025,

Soil management in orchards - Archive, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support

Soil management in orchards - Archive

Preview of Starting / Enhancing Your Regenerative Agriculture Journey, accessed July 18, 2025,

Starting / Enhancing Your Regenerative Agriculture Journey, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Regenerative Agriculture - a literature review on the practices and mechanisms used to improve soil health, accessed July 7, 2025,

Preview of Suitable methods of tillage for the farm, accessed July 18, 2025,

Suitable methods of tillage for the farm, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Suitable methods of tillage for the farm

Preview of Water and Nitrogen Balance in Natural and Agricultural Systems in the Wet Tropics of North Queensland: A Review - Australian Banana Growers' Council, accessed July 18, 2025,

Water and Nitrogen Balance in Natural and Agricultural Systems in the Wet Tropics of North Queensland: A Review - Australian Banana Growers' Council, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support

Water and nitrogen balance in natural and agricultural systems in the NQ Wet Tropics

Preview of Water Use Limitations of Cover Crops in Dryland Cropping - CSANR, accessed July 18, 2025,

Water Use Limitations of Cover Crops in Dryland Cropping - CSANR, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support

Cavendish Bananas - Banana Growing Guide - NSW Department of Primary Industries

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 28 May 2026

Notes

Upper Detrimental Threshold: 30 %. This represents a physical tipping point for accelerated soil erosion. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSR-AGR-BAR family.