Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-AIF-AGR-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 145 to 206 mm/hr
Optimal Range: 145 to 206
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. The scoring engine uses 2 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

On the grey cracking clay, the conventional tillage system exhibited a very low Ks​ of 12–33 mm/h. In contrast, the same soil under long-term conservation tillage demonstrated a remarkably high Ks​ in the range of 145–206 mm/h.

Metric Definition:

Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks​), the rate at which water moves through saturated soil, proxy for steady-state infiltration rate.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the optimal soil water infiltration rate range for grey cracking clay soils under long-term conservation tillage in the Arid Inland Floodplains biome, indicating best-practice management conditions.

Justification:

Long-term (8–10 years) CSIRO field study with direct comparison of management systems on the same soil type, representing best-practice management.

Sources (1)

Preview of Soil Quality Indicators - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 7, 2025,
Soil Quality Indicators - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 7, 2025, Journal

Mixed Effects of Soil Compaction on the Nitrogen Cycle Under Pea and Wheat - PMC

View Source

Supporting Sources (21)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Soil water storage, drainage, and leaching in four irrigated cotton-based cropping systems sown in a Vertosol with subsoil sodicity - ResearchGate, accessed July 16, 2025
(PDF) Soil water storage, drainage, and leaching in four irrigated cotton-based cropping systems sown in a Vertosol with subsoil sodicity - ResearchGate, accessed July 16, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Managing soils - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Australian Soil: Definition, Classification, Types and Quality - Access EP, accessed July 30, 2025
Australian Soil: Definition, Classification, Types and Quality - Access EP, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Appendix H - Water Infiltration Modelling - NT EPA, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Best Management Practices to Use on Karst and Silurian Soil - Crops and Soils, accessed July 23, 2025,
Best Management Practices to Use on Karst and Silurian Soil - Crops and Soils, accessed July 23, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Australian Soil: Definition, Classification, Types and Quality - Access EP, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Chapter 7 Nutrient Leaching - SIPS Soil & Crop Sciences Section
Chapter 7 Nutrient Leaching - SIPS Soil & Crop Sciences Section
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Chapter 7 Nutrient Leaching - SIPS Soil & Crop Sciences Section, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis | PLOS One, accessed July 6, 2025,
Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis | PLOS One, accessed July 6, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis | PLOS One - Research journals

View Source
Preview of Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis, accessed July 6, 2025,
Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Chapter 7 Nutrient Leaching - SIPS Soil & Crop Sciences Section

View Source
Preview of Discover the Top 6 Benefits of Regenerative Farming in Australia, accessed August 5, 2025,
Discover the Top 6 Benefits of Regenerative Farming in Australia, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Discover the Top 6 Benefits of Regenerative Farming in Australia, accessed July 16, 2025
Discover the Top 6 Benefits of Regenerative Farming in Australia, accessed July 16, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Health: Supporting Rural Industries in the Wet Tropics, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Five tips for improving water infiltration | Biocast - Island Biologicals, accessed July 16, 2025
Five tips for improving water infiltration | Biocast - Island Biologicals, accessed July 16, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Health and Regenerative Agriculture - Southern Queensland Landscapes, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Infiltration - www.organicexchange.com.au, accessed July 16, 2025
Infiltration - www.organicexchange.com.au, accessed July 16, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Infiltration - www.organicexchange.com.au, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Measuring the infiltration rate of water into soil using the ring infiltrometer method - The Australian Wine Research Institute
Measuring the infiltration rate of water into soil using the ring infiltrometer method - The Australian Wine Research Institute
Contextual Support Government

Measuring the infiltration rate of water into soil using the ring infiltrometer method - The Australian Wine Research Institute, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Methods to Quantify In-Field Nutrient Leaching - UF/IFAS EDIS, accessed July 16, 2025
Methods to Quantify In-Field Nutrient Leaching - UF/IFAS EDIS, accessed July 16, 2025
Methodology Source Government

Methods to Quantify In-Field Nutrient Leaching - UF/IFAS EDIS, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Nutrient Loss and Water Quality - Oklahoma State University Extension, accessed July 6, 2025,
Nutrient Loss and Water Quality - Oklahoma State University Extension, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Nutrient Loss and Water Quality - Oklahoma State University Extension, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Patterns of water infiltration and soil degradation over a 120-yr chronosequence from forest to agriculture in western Kenya - HESS, accessed July 16, 2025
Patterns of water infiltration and soil degradation over a 120-yr chronosequence from forest to agriculture in western Kenya - HESS, accessed July 16, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Patterns of water infiltration and soil degradation over a 120-yr chronosequence from forest to agriculture in western Kenya - HESS, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Rapid Assessment of Soil Health (RASH) manual - Department for Environment and Water, accessed July 6, 2025,
Rapid Assessment of Soil Health (RASH) manual - Department for Environment and Water, accessed July 6, 2025,
Degradation Threshold Journal

Infiltration - Oz Soils 4 - UNE, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment, accessed August 10, 2025,
Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Analysing water sensitive urban design options - Australian Water Association

View Source
Preview of Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment, accessed July 16, 2025
Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment, accessed July 16, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING
Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING
Contextual Support Journal

Crop and Pasture Science - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of supporting sustainable development - risks and impacts of plant ...
supporting sustainable development - risks and impacts of plant ...
Contextual Support Journal

Northern Rivers Soil Health Card - NSW Department of Primary ...

View Source
Preview of Understanding Water Movement Throughout Different Soil Profiles ..., accessed July 6, 2025,
Understanding Water Movement Throughout Different Soil Profiles ..., accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Wetlands | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed July 16, 2025
Wetlands | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed July 16, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Wetlands | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed July 16, 2025,

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Represents the best available condition under proven best-practice conservation tillage management on grey cracking clay soils typical of the biome. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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

— mm/hr Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Not Stated
OptimalRange Active v1
10 mm/hr High
Agricultural Crop Production · Not Stated
MinimumOnly Active v1
150 mm/hr High
Agricultural Crop Production · Not Stated
MaximumOnly Active v1