Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-TGP-LVG-SWI General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 10 to 30 mm/hr
Optimal Range: 10 to 30
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

Achieving a steady-state infiltration rate in the range of 10–30 mm/hr would represent a profound ecological improvement and a state of high health for this soil type.

Metric Definition:

Soil water infiltration rate target for heavy clay soils under best-practice management.

Benchmark Definition:

Best-practice infiltration rate target for heavy clay soils.

Justification:

Management can improve infiltration in heavy clays, but rates remain lower than coarser soils; 10–30 mm/hr indicates high health.

Sources (2)

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, Government

Soil Infiltration | Agronomic Crops Network - The Ohio State University

View Source
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 (4)

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 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 ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Represents a profound ecological improvement from degraded state near zero.

Related Benchmarks

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

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