Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-TGP-LVG-SWI General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 50 to 70 mm/hr

Thresholds: Lower: 10, Upper: —

Optimal Range: 50 to 70

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. The scoring engine uses 7 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 6 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard LowerThreshold Guard LowerThreshold Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard

Evidence & Context

Soil Water Infiltration Rate 50 - 70 mm/hr Healthy soils and water infiltration in the paddock High The reference value represents the average infiltration rate for well-structured soils under best-practice pasture management in the temperate grazing lands of Central West NSW.

Metric Definition:

Soil Water Infiltration Rate (SWIR) representing the best available condition for livestock grazing systems within Australia's Temperate Grassy Woodlands and Plains biome.

Benchmark Definition:

The rate at which water enters the soil reflecting the soil's capacity to perform essential ecosystem services in temperate grazing lands.

Justification:

The benchmark is based on quantitative data from NSW Local Land Services report and supported by multiple credible sources linking best-practice grazing management to high infiltration rates.

Sources (1)

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, Journal

Healthy soils and water infiltration in the paddock - Local Land ...

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Supporting Sources (5)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Effects of soil degradation on infiltration rates in grazed semiarid rangelands of northeastern Patagonia, Argentina - project bedrock

Effects of soil degradation on infiltration rates in grazed semiarid rangelands of northeastern Patagonia, Argentina - project bedrock

Contextual Support Journal

Effects of Grazing on Water Erosion, Compaction and Infiltration on Grasslands - MDPI

View Source

How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem ... - Frontiers

View Source

Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review

View Source

Preview of Soil and Crop Management Practices to Minimize the Impact of Waterlogging on Crop Productivity - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed August 4, 2025,

Soil and Crop Management Practices to Minimize the Impact of Waterlogging on Crop Productivity - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Soil Infiltration | Agronomic Crops Network - The Ohio State University

View Source

The effect of soil and pasture attributes on rangeland infiltration rates in northern Australia

Contextual Support

The effect of soil and pasture attributes on rangeland infiltration rates in northern Australia

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 25 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: < 10 mm/hr, with severe dysfunction at ~5 mm/hr. Optimal Range: 50-70 mm/hr or higher depending on soil texture. No upper detrimental threshold exists; higher rates are beneficial. Groundcover >70% is critical for achieving these rates.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-LVG-SWI family.