Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-TMI-AGR-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

10 mm/hr

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: MinimumOnly

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

Synthesizing these figures, a steady-state infiltration rate of < 10 mm/hr is proposed as the Lower Critical Threshold for agricultural soils in this biome.

Metric Definition:

Lower critical threshold for soil water infiltration rate below which soil hydrological function is significantly compromised.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the lower critical threshold for soil water infiltration rate below which soil's capacity to accept water is severely restricted, leading to runoff and erosion in tropical maritime island agricultural soils.

Justification:

Derived from multiple sources including Australian agricultural landscapes and international guidelines indicating significant infiltration problems below this rate.

Sources (3)

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, 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 Health: Supporting Rural Industries in the Wet Tropics, accessed July 25, 2025,

Soil Health: Supporting Rural Industries in the Wet Tropics, accessed July 25, 2025, GreyLiterature

Healthy soils and water infiltration in the paddock - Local Land Services - NSW Government

View Source

Preview of The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 22, 2025,

The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 22, 2025, Journal

View of Efficacy of the Ecosystem Services Approach in Transitioning to Regenerative Agriculture in Australia | Reinvention, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source

Supporting Sources (3)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Impacts of Different Tillage Practices on Soil Water Infiltration for Sustainable Agriculture - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

Impacts of Different Tillage Practices on Soil Water Infiltration for Sustainable Agriculture - ResearchGate

View Source

Standard range of water infiltration rate for plantation or agricultural purpose - ResearchGate

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Standard range of water infiltration rate for plantation or agricultural purpose - ResearchGate

View Source

TROPICAL SOILS | Terrain NRM, accessed July 16, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

A Revegetation Guide for Sub-Tropical Forest - Greening Australia, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

Below this value, the soil shifts from being a net absorber to a net shedder of water, increasing runoff and erosion risks.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMI-AGR-SWI family.