Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-TMI-AGR-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

70 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

Sandy / Sandy Loam soils benchmark is > 70 mm/hr.

Metric Definition:

Benchmark for sandy soils infiltration rate under regenerative management.

Benchmark Definition:

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

Justification:

Reflects maintenance of excellent structure and high organic matter content to prevent compaction and water repellency.

Sources (1)

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

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

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

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 TargetCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

Sandy soils have naturally high infiltration potential; benchmark reflects best-performing agricultural systems.

Related Benchmarks

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