Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-TMS-FOR-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

10 mm/hr

Thresholds: Lower: 10, Upper: —

Direction: Lower 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 12 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 11 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary LowerThreshold Guard MaximumOnly Guard LowerThreshold Guard MinimumOnly Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard Point Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard

Evidence & Context

This suggests that extensive bare soil conditions in TMS can drive effective infiltration rates towards critically low levels, potentially < 10-20 mm/hr during initial rainfall on susceptible soils before vegetation cover re-establishes.

Metric Definition:

Lower critical threshold for Soil Water Infiltration Rate indicating severe degradation due to bare/crusted soil conditions.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the lower critical soil water infiltration rate threshold below which soil hydrological function is severely impaired due to bare or crusted soil surfaces in Australian Tropical Monsoonal Savannas production forestry.

Justification:

Based on observations from fire experiments showing significant runoff and low infiltration on bare soils.

Sources (1)

Do shrubs reduce the adverse effects of grazing on soil properties? - ResearchGate

The effect of three fire regimes on stream water quality, water yield ...

View Source

Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

6. LAND CAPABILITY CLASSES ON THE FORTH MAP, accessed July 16, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

The role of active fractions of soil organic matter in physical and chemical fertility of Ferrosols

View Source

Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Infiltration Infiltration Management - USDA, accessed July 6, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Infiltration Infiltration ... - USDA

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Superseded
Version 2
Effective From 25 Mar 2026
Effective To 25 Mar 2026

Notes

Indicates significant degradation and compromised ecosystem function.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMS-FOR-SWI family.