Litter Cover

AUS-TSR-AGR-LIT General High confidence

Benchmark Value

90 %
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: MinimumOnly

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

A Best-Practice Benchmark of >90% is Achievable and Ecologically Optimal: The reference value of >90% litter cover is robustly supported by a convergence of evidence.

Metric Definition:

Litter cover percentage representing the best available condition achievable within productive agricultural landscapes.

Benchmark Definition:

The highest level of litter cover representing best practice and ecological health in tropical cropping systems.

Justification:

This benchmark is based on a synthesis of regulatory standards, industry best practices such as Green Cane Trash Blanketing, and empirical erosion data from horticultural trials.

Sources (5)

Preview of Factors associated with the suppressiveness of sugarcane soils to plant-parasitic nematodes, accessed July 18, 2025
Factors associated with the suppressiveness of sugarcane soils to plant-parasitic nematodes, accessed July 18, 2025 Journal

Macadamia Horticulture (Trial) Ground Cover 89% (for near-zero erosion) Research 25

View Source
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 Journal

Banana cultivation: Erosion and sediment control guide, accessed July 18, 2025

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, 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 THE REVOLUTION OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN THE AUSTRALIAN SUGARCANE INDUSTRY - NSERL
THE REVOLUTION OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN THE AUSTRALIAN SUGARCANE INDUSTRY - NSERL Journal

Wanted, dead or alive – ground covers - Australian Banana Growers' Council, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Understanding the economics of horticultural management practices ..., accessed July 18, 2025
Understanding the economics of horticultural management practices ..., accessed July 18, 2025 Journal

Regenerative agriculture augments bacterial community structure for a healthier soil and agriculture - Frontiers

View Source

Supporting Sources (22)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Management of sugarcane harvest residues: consequences for soil carbon and nitrogen - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025
(PDF) Management of sugarcane harvest residues: consequences for soil carbon and nitrogen - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Management of sugarcane harvest residues: consequences for soil carbon and nitrogen - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Avocado and Pests: Managing Pests in Avocado Orchards - The Avolution, accessed July 18, 2025
Avocado and Pests: Managing Pests in Avocado Orchards - The Avolution, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

The role of conservation agriculture in sustainable agriculture | Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Biosecurity risks to poultry farms - Business Queensland, accessed July 18, 2025
Biosecurity risks to poultry farms - Business Queensland, accessed July 18, 2025
Irrelevant Government

Crop Rotations, Fallowing, and Associated Environmental Benefits, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Effect of sugarcane mulch thickness on emergence of four vine species: results of a pot trial, accessed July 18, 2025
Effect of sugarcane mulch thickness on emergence of four vine species: results of a pot trial, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Effect of sugarcane mulch thickness on emergence of four vine species: results of a pot trial, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Free Publications - Agroforestry.org, accessed July 18, 2025
Free Publications - Agroforestry.org, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Free Publications - Agroforestry.org, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Great Barrier Reef Report Card 2016 Management practice methods - Reef Water Quality Protection Plan, accessed July 19, 2025,
Great Barrier Reef Report Card 2016 Management practice methods - Reef Water Quality Protection Plan, accessed July 19, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Best management practice for maintaining and improving land condition on grazing lands

View Source
Preview of Management of sugarcane harvest residues: consequences for soil carbon and nitrogen
Management of sugarcane harvest residues: consequences for soil carbon and nitrogen
Contextual Support Journal

FARMING SYSTEMS AND THEIR EFFECT ON THE RESPONSE OF SUGARCANE TO NITROGEN By B SALTER - Sugar Research Australia, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Reef Protection Regulations 2019 - What does it mean for you? - AgForce, accessed July 18, 2025
Reef Protection Regulations 2019 - What does it mean for you? - AgForce, accessed July 18, 2025
Regulatory Framework Journal

Reef Protection Regulations 2019 - What does it mean for you? - AgForce, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Requirements for graziers | Environment, land and water ..., accessed July 18, 2025
Requirements for graziers | Environment, land and water ..., accessed July 18, 2025
Regulatory Framework

Sustainable land management and wetlands conservation on freehold and leasehold land in the Great Barrier Reef Catchment - DCCEEW, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
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

View Source
Preview of Runoff and erosion from Australia's tropical semi‐arid rangelands: Influence of ground cover for differing space and time scales | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 22, 2025,
Runoff and erosion from Australia's tropical semi‐arid rangelands: Influence of ground cover for differing space and time scales | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support

Runoff and erosion from Australia's tropical semi‐arid rangelands: Influence of ground cover for differing space and time scales | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil and water best management practices for NSW banana growers, accessed July 18, 2025
Soil and water best management practices for NSW banana growers, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Ground cover management alters development of Fusarium wilt symptoms in Ducasse bananas | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil erosion as a resilience drain in disturbed tropical forests, accessed July 18, 2025
Soil erosion as a resilience drain in disturbed tropical forests, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Soil erosion as a resilience drain in disturbed tropical forests, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil erosion as a resilience drain in disturbed tropical forests, accessed July 22, 2025,
Soil erosion as a resilience drain in disturbed tropical forests, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

The impact of deforestation - The Tropical Rainforest

View Source
Preview of Soil Health and Climate Change, accessed July 18, 2025
Soil Health and Climate Change, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support

Dynamics of sugarcane harvest residue (trash) decomposition - SciELO Argentina, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil-Borne Pathogens and Their Interactions with the Soil Environment - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025
Soil-Borne Pathogens and Their Interactions with the Soil Environment - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil-Borne Pathogens and Their Interactions with the Soil Environment - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Statutory review of the regulated standards under the Reef protection regulations - Banana cultivation - In the Loop, Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation
Statutory review of the regulated standards under the Reef protection regulations - Banana cultivation - In the Loop, Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation
Contextual Support

Statutory review of the regulated standards under the Reef protection regulations - Banana cultivation - In the Loop, Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Stubble Retention in Cropping Systems in Southern Australia: Benefits and Challenges - Charles Sturt University
Stubble Retention in Cropping Systems in Southern Australia: Benefits and Challenges - Charles Sturt University
Contextual Support Journal

Shelterbelts for control of wind erosion | Erosion | Soil | Farm management, accessed August 13, 2025

View Source
Preview of Stubble Retention in Cropping Systems in Southern Australia: Benefits and Challenges - Charles Sturt University, accessed July 18, 2025
Stubble Retention in Cropping Systems in Southern Australia: Benefits and Challenges - Charles Sturt University, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Stubble Retention in Cropping Systems in Southern Australia: Benefits and Challenges - Charles Sturt University, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of The effects of Regenerative Agriculture on the quality of soil and plant/animal produce, accessed July 18, 2025
The effects of Regenerative Agriculture on the quality of soil and plant/animal produce, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

The effects of Regenerative Agriculture on the quality of soil and plant/animal produce, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 22, 2025,
The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

View of Efficacy of the Ecosystem Services Approach in Transitioning to Regenerative Agriculture in Australia | Reinvention, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Understanding the economics of improved management practices and systems on sugarcane farms - Queensland Government publications, accessed July 18, 2025
Understanding the economics of improved management practices and systems on sugarcane farms - Queensland Government publications, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Factors associated with the suppressiveness of sugarcane soils to plant-parasitic nematodes, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Lower Critical Threshold: <70% cover is critically low leading to accelerated soil erosion. Optimal range is >90% to 100%. Agronomic constraints create a practical upper limit.

Related Benchmarks

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

70 % High
Agricultural Crop Production · Conservation Target
MinimumOnly Active v2
— % High
Agricultural Crop Production · Conservation Target
OptimalRange Active v1