Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-TGP-LVG-SWI General High confidence

Benchmark Value

10 mm/hr
Thresholds: Lower: 10, Upper: —
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: LowerThreshold

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

Threshold Value: < 10 mm/hr, with severe dysfunction occurring at ~5 mm/hr.

Metric Definition:

Lower critical threshold for soil water infiltration rate below which soil function is critically impaired.

Benchmark Definition:

The infiltration rate below which soil function is critically impaired and degradation processes accelerate.

Justification:

Supported by quantitative data from NSW Local Land Services and qualitative descriptions of severely degraded woodlands.

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 ...

View Source

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
Preview of How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers, accessed August 5, 2025,
How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

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

View Source
Preview of Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review, accessed August 5, 2025,
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
Preview of The effect of soil and pasture attributes on rangeland infiltration rates in northern Australia
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 DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 25 Mar 2026

Notes

Below this threshold, runoff increases dramatically, initiating erosion and reduced plant growth.

Related Benchmarks

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

— mm/hr High
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
— mm/hr High
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1