Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-AIF-LVG-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: CompositeFramework

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Evidence & Context

On Vertosols, a detrimental upper threshold for water infiltration exists, but it is not related to surface waterlogging.

Metric Definition:

Upper detrimental threshold where infiltration exceeds vegetation water-use capacity causing salinity risk.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents a subsurface infiltration threshold on Vertosols where excessive infiltration causes salinity risk.

Justification:

Based on evidence of increased deep drainage and salt mobilization under pasture.

Sources (1)

Preview of The effect of soil and pasture attributes on rangeland infiltration rates in northern Australia, accessed July 18, 2025,
The effect of soil and pasture attributes on rangeland infiltration rates in northern Australia, accessed July 18, 2025, Journal

(PDF) Deep drainage rates of Grey Vertosols depend on land use in semi-arid subtropical regions of Queensland, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source

Supporting Sources (19)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of A framework relating soil surface condition to infiltration and sediment and nutrient mobilization in grazed rangelands of northeastern Queensland, Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate
A framework relating soil surface condition to infiltration and sediment and nutrient mobilization in grazed rangelands of northeastern Queensland, Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

A framework relating soil surface condition to infiltration and sediment and nutrient mobilization in grazed rangelands of northeastern Queensland, Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of A Health Check for our Agricultural Soils - Enviro Data SA, accessed July 16, 2025,
A Health Check for our Agricultural Soils - Enviro Data SA, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

A Health Check for our Agricultural Soils - Enviro Data SA

View Source
Preview of Beeftalk - FutureBeef, accessed July 18, 2025,
Beeftalk - FutureBeef, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Beeftalk - FutureBeef, accessed July 18, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Can extension programs improve grazing management in rangelands: a case study in Australia's Great Barrier Reef catchments - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 10, 2025,
Can extension programs improve grazing management in rangelands: a case study in Australia's Great Barrier Reef catchments - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Can extension programs improve grazing management in rangelands: a case study in Australia's Great Barrier Reef catchments - CSIRO Publishing

View Source
Preview of Can simple, on-ground vegetation and soil measures reliably indicate the health of rangelands? An application in Australia's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 30, 2025
Can simple, on-ground vegetation and soil measures reliably indicate the health of rangelands? An application in Australia's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

The Rangeland Journal - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed July 10, 2025

View Source
Preview of Criterion I: Soil and water conservation on rangelands [Chapter 2] - Forest Service, accessed July 18, 2025,
Criterion I: Soil and water conservation on rangelands [Chapter 2] - Forest Service, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Criterion I: Soil and water conservation on rangelands [Chapter 2] - Forest Service, accessed July 18, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,
Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Ludwig, J.A., Bastin, G.N., Chewings, V.H., Eager, R.W., and Liedloff, A.C. (2005). Clearing savannas for use as rangelands in Queensland: Altered landscapes and water-erosion processes. Rangeland Journal, 27(2), 135-149.

View Source
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

Landscape rehydration and regenerative agriculture improves soil health, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Grazing support programs | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed August 8, 2025
Grazing support programs | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed August 8, 2025
Direct Evidence Government

Infiltration rates and soil moisture in a groved mulga community near ..., accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Impacts of Different Tillage Practices on Soil Water Infiltration for Sustainable Agriculture, accessed July 7, 2025
Impacts of Different Tillage Practices on Soil Water Infiltration for Sustainable Agriculture, accessed July 7, 2025
Direct Evidence

VERTISOLS (VR), accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Infiltration Infiltration Management - USDA, accessed July 18, 2025,
Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Infiltration Infiltration Management - USDA, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support

Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Infiltration Infiltration Management - USDA, accessed July 18, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Managing environmental flows in an agricultural landscape: the Lower Gwydir floodplain - DCCEEW, accessed July 18, 2025,
Managing environmental flows in an agricultural landscape: the Lower Gwydir floodplain - DCCEEW, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support

Vegetation mapping of the Barwon-Darling and Condamine ...

View Source
Preview of National Guidance on Acid Sulfate Soils - Water Quality Australia
National Guidance on Acid Sulfate Soils - Water Quality Australia
Contextual Support Journal

Managing soils - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 17, 2025

View Source
Preview of Rangeland Soil Quality: Infiltration - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 6, 2025,
Rangeland Soil Quality: Infiltration - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Understanding Soil Infiltration - Ideal Geotech

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

Rangeland Soil Quality: Infiltration - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture - MLA, accessed August 5, 2025,
Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture - MLA, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Coexistence of shrubs and grass in a semi-arid landscape: a case study of mulga (Acacia aneura, Mimosaceae) shrublands embedded in fire-prone spinifex (Triodia pungens, Poaceae) hummock grasslands - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany

View Source
Preview of Soil water measurement and management on Vertisols in Queensland, Australia, accessed July 18, 2025,
Soil water measurement and management on Vertisols in Queensland, Australia, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Tillage and Residue Effects on Infiltration and Sediment Losses on Vertisols - USDA ARS, accessed July 18, 2025,

View Source
Preview of The effect of soil and pasture attributes on ... - CSIRO Publishing
The effect of soil and pasture attributes on ... - CSIRO Publishing
Contextual Support Journal

CSIRO (2016)

View Source
Preview of The Impacts of Grazing 1 NEFA BACKGROUND PAPER - Cloudfront.net, accessed August 6, 2025
The Impacts of Grazing 1 NEFA BACKGROUND PAPER - Cloudfront.net, accessed August 6, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

Represents a slow but damaging salinization process triggered by excessive infiltration exceeding plant water use.

Related Benchmarks

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

— mm/hr High
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
5 mm/hr Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Rehabilitation Target
MaximumOnly Active v1