Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-TMI-AGR-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 15 to 30 mm/hr

Optimal Range: 15 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

The following table presents a framework for texture-specific benchmarks: Sandy soils (>70 mm/hr), Loam soils (50-70 mm/hr), and Clay soils (15-30 mm/hr).

Metric Definition:

Texture-specific steady-state soil water infiltration rate benchmarks for best-practice regenerative agricultural management.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark range represents the steady-state infiltration rate for clay soils under best-practice regenerative agricultural management in tropical maritime island agricultural crop production.

Justification:

Represents significant relative improvement over baseline clay soil infiltration rates through regenerative practices.

Sources (1)

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

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

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

View Source

Supporting Sources (5)

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

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

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

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

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

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

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,

Contextual Support Journal

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

View Source

Context

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

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

Clay soils have lower absolute rates but can achieve functional increases in infiltration through improved aggregation and biopores.

Related Benchmarks

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