Soil Moisture

AUS-AMR-LVG-SMO General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 20 to 42 %
Thresholds: Lower: 20, Upper: 42
Optimal Range: 20 to 42
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

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

Evidence & Context

Table 2. Summary of Soil Moisture Functional Ranges for Ecosystem Health (VWC %) Soil Texture Lower Critical Threshold (PWP) Optimal Functional Range Upper Detrimental Threshold (Condition) Sandy Loam < 10% 10% - 22% Prolonged saturation at >22% Clay Loam < 16% 16% - 38% Prolonged saturation at >38% Clay < 20% 20% - 42% Prolonged saturation at >42%

Metric Definition:

Volumetric Water Content (VWC) percentage ranges representing lower critical threshold (Permanent Wilting Point), optimal functional range (between PWP and Field Capacity), and upper detrimental threshold (prolonged saturation leading to waterlogging).

Benchmark Definition:

These soil moisture ranges define critical thresholds for ecosystem health in arid mountain grazing lands, with the lower threshold marking plant stress onset and the upper threshold indicating risk of waterlogging.

Justification:

These thresholds represent critical soil moisture levels for ecosystem health, with PWP marking irreversible plant stress and upper threshold marking waterlogging risk.

Sources (2)

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, Journal

Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries

View Source
Preview of Waterlogging | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 19, 2025,
Waterlogging | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 19, 2025, Government

Waterlogging | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au

View Source

Supporting Sources (20)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Managing arid zone natural resources in Australia for spatial and temporal variability - An approach from first principles - ResearchGate, accessed July 6, 2025,
(PDF) Managing arid zone natural resources in Australia for spatial and temporal variability - An approach from first principles - ResearchGate, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support

(PDF) Managing arid zone natural resources in Australia for spatial and temporal variability - An approach from first principles - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of A fresh framework for the ecology of arid Australia - Research @ Flinders, accessed July 28, 2025
A fresh framework for the ecology of arid Australia - Research @ Flinders, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

A fresh framework for the ecology of arid Australia - Research @ Flinders

View Source
Preview of A Guide to Soil Moisture - ConnectedCrops, accessed May 15, 2025,
A Guide to Soil Moisture - ConnectedCrops, accessed May 15, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

A Guide to Soil Moisture - ConnectedCrops

View Source
Preview of Animal Production Science - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed July 28, 2025
Animal Production Science - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Animal Production Science - CSIRO PUBLISHING

View Source
Preview of Bulk Density - 20 - 30 cm | Central | Western Australia | Examine | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 28, 2025
Bulk Density - 20 - 30 cm | Central | Western Australia | Examine | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Restoration of degraded grazing country in the semi-arid areas of ...

View Source
Preview of Discover the Top 6 Benefits of Regenerative Farming in Australia, accessed August 5, 2025,
Discover the Top 6 Benefits of Regenerative Farming in Australia, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF

View Source
Preview of Discover the Top 6 Benefits of Regenerative Farming in Australia, accessed July 28, 2025
Discover the Top 6 Benefits of Regenerative Farming in Australia, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Discover the Top 6 Benefits of Regenerative Farming in Australia

View Source
Preview of ESTIMATING EXTRACTABLE SOIL MOISTURE CONTENT FOR AUSTRALIAN SOILS - eWater, accessed August 9, 2025
ESTIMATING EXTRACTABLE SOIL MOISTURE CONTENT FOR AUSTRALIAN SOILS - eWater, accessed August 9, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative Agriculture - a literature review on the practices and ...

View Source
Preview of Global critical soil moisture thresholds of plant water stress - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025
Global critical soil moisture thresholds of plant water stress - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Global critical soil moisture thresholds of plant water stress - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 10, 2025,
Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Boom and bust for biodiversity in arid Australia

View Source
Preview of In a native pasture, landscape properties influence soil moisture more than grazing management
In a native pasture, landscape properties influence soil moisture more than grazing management
Contextual Support Journal

In a native pasture, landscape properties influence soil moisture more than grazing management

View Source
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,
Contextual Support Journal

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

View Source
Preview of Meat & Livestock Australia. (n.d.). Maintain ground cover. MLA.
Meat & Livestock Australia. (n.d.). Maintain ground cover. MLA.
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Report card on sustainable natural resource use in the rangelands

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 Land Management - HEALTHY SOILS AUSTRALIA

View Source
Preview of Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review, accessed July 18, 2025,
Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support

Grazing Practices and Soil Moisture | National Drought Mitigation Center

View Source
Preview of Soil health indicator sheet - Soil compaction (bulk density) - Minnesota Stormwater Manual, accessed July 30, 2025,
Soil health indicator sheet - Soil compaction (bulk density) - Minnesota Stormwater Manual, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support

Soil health indicator sheet - Soil compaction (bulk density) - Minnesota Stormwater Manual

View Source
Preview of Structure Development in Surficial Heavy Clay Soils: A Synthesis of Mechanisms - Australian Geomechanics Society, accessed July 18, 2025,
Structure Development in Surficial Heavy Clay Soils: A Synthesis of Mechanisms - Australian Geomechanics Society, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Managing arid zone natural resources in Australia for spatial and temporal variability – an approach from first principles - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal

View Source
Preview of Understanding Soil Water Content and Thresholds for Irrigation Management, accessed July 28, 2025
Understanding Soil Water Content and Thresholds for Irrigation Management, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Understanding Soil Water Content and Thresholds for Irrigation Management

View Source
Preview of Understanding Soil Water Content and Thresholds for Irrigation Management, accessed July 7, 2025,
Understanding Soil Water Content and Thresholds for Irrigation Management, accessed July 7, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Pasture growth

View Source
Preview of Waterlogging in Australian agricultural landscapes: a review of plant responses and crop models - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,
Waterlogging in Australian agricultural landscapes: a review of plant responses and crop models - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Manage wet soils – North East Victoria, Southern NSW and South West Victoria (Upper)

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Superseded
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 25 Mar 2026
  • Effective To 25 Mar 2026

Notes

Crossing the PWP risks loss of perennial vegetation and soil erosion; prolonged saturation causes nutrient loss and soil damage.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AMR-LVG-SMO family.

— % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v2
— % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v2
10 % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Degradation Threshold
LowerThreshold Active v1
20 % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Degradation Threshold
LowerThreshold Active v1
— % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
— % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Superseded v1