Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-AKW-AGR-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

70 mm/hr
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: Point

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 7 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 6 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The value of ~70 mm/hr represents the measured steady-state infiltration rate within a healthy, well-established mulga (Acacia aneura) grove in an Australian arid environment.

Metric Definition:

Soil Water Infiltration Rate is the rate at which water enters the soil, measured as steady-state infiltration rate.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the steady-state infiltration rate of water into soil in the Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands biome under agricultural crop production, indicating the soil's capacity to absorb water in a healthy condition.

Justification:

This value is a scientifically-defended proxy derived from a high-functioning native ecosystem analogue, representing the best available condition achievable under long-term regenerative cropping management in this biome.

Sources (4)

Preview of Do shrubs reduce the adverse effects of grazing on soil properties? - ResearchGate
Do shrubs reduce the adverse effects of grazing on soil properties? - ResearchGate

General Soil Water Infiltration Rate Classification

View Source
Preview of Infiltration rates and soil moisture in a groved mulga community near Alice Springs, arid central Australia: Evidence for complex internal rainwater redistribution in a runoff-runon landscape | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Infiltration rates and soil moisture in a groved mulga community near Alice Springs, arid central Australia: Evidence for complex internal rainwater redistribution in a runoff-runon landscape | Request PDF - ResearchGate GreyLiterature

Effects of soil degradation on infiltration rates in grazed semiarid rangelands of northeastern Patagonia, Argentina - Project Bedrock

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor Karst - The Western Australian Speleological Group
Nullarbor Karst - The Western Australian Speleological Group Journal

Nullarbor Karst - The Western Australian Speleological Group

View Source
Preview of Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,
Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025, Journal

Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source

Supporting Sources (26)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of An inventory and condition survey of the Western Australian part of the Nullarbor region - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed July 25, 2025
An inventory and condition survey of the Western Australian part of the Nullarbor region - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support Government

South Australia - Soil Science Australia

View Source
Preview of Australian Soil Classification edition 3 - CALCAROSOLS, accessed July 26, 2025
Australian Soil Classification edition 3 - CALCAROSOLS, accessed July 26, 2025
Contextual Support

Distribution, characteristics and management of calcareous soils

View Source
Preview of Cave - Karst, Terrain, Distribution | Britannica
Cave - Karst, Terrain, Distribution | Britannica
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

"An inventory and condition survey of the Western Australian part of ...

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,
Contextual Support 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,
Methodology Source Journal

Chapter 7 Nutrient Leaching - SIPS Soil & Crop Sciences Section

View Source
Preview of Crop sequences in Western Australia: what are they and are they sustainable? Findings of a four-year survey - ResearchGate
Crop sequences in Western Australia: what are they and are they sustainable? Findings of a four-year survey - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture reviewed - Western Australian Government, accessed July 8, 2025

View Source
Preview of CSIRO Research Publications Repository - Home Page, accessed July 6, 2025,
CSIRO Research Publications Repository - Home Page, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis

View Source
Preview of Exploring the Critical Role of Water in Regenerative Agriculture; Building Promises and Avoiding Pitfalls - Frontiers
Exploring the Critical Role of Water in Regenerative Agriculture; Building Promises and Avoiding Pitfalls - Frontiers
Contextual Support Journal

Exploring the Critical Role of Water in Regenerative Agriculture; Building Promises and Avoiding Pitfalls - Frontiers

View Source
Preview of Geology of the Nullarbor Plain (Webb and James 2006; courtesy JA Webb). - ResearchGate, accessed July 26, 2025,
Geology of the Nullarbor Plain (Webb and James 2006; courtesy JA Webb). - ResearchGate, accessed July 26, 2025,
Contextual Support

Geology of the Nullarbor Plain (Webb and James 2006; courtesy JA Webb). - ResearchGate, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Influence of Tillage and Cropping Systems on Soil Properties and Crop Performance under Semi-Arid Conditions - MDPI
Influence of Tillage and Cropping Systems on Soil Properties and Crop Performance under Semi-Arid Conditions - MDPI
Contextual Support Journal

Influence of Tillage and Cropping Systems on Soil Properties and Crop Performance under Semi-Arid Conditions - MDPI

View Source
Preview of Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Infiltration Infiltration Management - USDA, accessed July 7, 2025
Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Infiltration Infiltration Management - USDA, accessed July 7, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Soil Health Assessment of Two Regenerative Farming Practices on Sandy Soils

View Source
Preview of Karst and agriculture in Australia - Digital Commons @ USF, accessed July 22, 2025,
Karst and agriculture in Australia - Digital Commons @ USF, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Alluvial Gully Erosion Rates and Processes Across the Mitchell ...

View Source
Preview of Management of Calcareous Soils in Arid Region - IJEPEM
Management of Calcareous Soils in Arid Region - IJEPEM
Contextual Support Journal

Management of Calcareous Soils in Arid Region - IJEPEM

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025
Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor Karst - The Western Australian Speleological Group, accessed July 26, 2025,
Nullarbor Karst - The Western Australian Speleological Group, accessed July 26, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nullarbor Plain - A biography of the Australian continent

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor Plains Xeric Shrublands | One Earth
Nullarbor Plains Xeric Shrublands | One Earth
Contextual Support Journal

Nullarbor Plains Xeric Shrublands | One Earth

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor Plains Xeric Shrublands | One Earth, accessed July 26, 2025,
Nullarbor Plains Xeric Shrublands | One Earth, accessed July 26, 2025,
Contextual Support

Ecological literature on nutrient adaptation in arid ecosystems

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers
Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers

View Source
Preview of Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture - MLA
Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture - MLA
Contextual Support Journal

Influence of vegetation type on infiltration rate and capacity at Ie jue geothermal manifestation, Mount Seulawah Agam, Indonesia

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 Constraints in an Arid Environment—Challenges, Prospects, and Implications - MDPI, accessed July 6, 2025,
Soil Constraints in an Arid Environment—Challenges, Prospects, and Implications - MDPI, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Constraints in an Arid Environment—Challenges, Prospects, and Implications - MDPI

View Source
Preview of Soil Infiltration Properties Are Affected by Typical Plant Communities in a Semi-Arid Desert Grassland in China - MDPI
Soil Infiltration Properties Are Affected by Typical Plant Communities in a Semi-Arid Desert Grassland in China - MDPI
Contextual Support Journal

How does building healthy soils impact sustainable use of water resources in irrigated agriculture? | Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene | University of California Press

View Source
Preview of The effect of soil and pasture attributes on rangeland infiltration rates in northern Australia
The effect of soil and pasture attributes on rangeland infiltration rates in northern Australia
Contextual Support Journal

The effect of soil and pasture attributes on rangeland infiltration rates in northern Australia

View Source
Preview of Understanding Soil Infiltration - Ideal Geotech, accessed July 7, 2025
Understanding Soil Infiltration - Ideal Geotech, accessed July 7, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Predicting Shifts in Australian Shrublands with Changing Climates and Land Uses - Forest Service

View Source
Preview of Your Complete Nullarbor Guide - Part 1. Ceduna to Nullarbor Roadhouse, accessed July 23, 2025
Your Complete Nullarbor Guide - Part 1. Ceduna to Nullarbor Roadhouse, accessed July 23, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Karst and agriculture in Australia" by David Gillieson and Mia Thurgate - Digital Commons @ USF - University of South Florida

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: A rate approaching 10 mm/hr is considered critically low, representing a degraded, bare, and crusted soil state with insufficient infiltration capacity. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Very high infiltration rates may lead to agronomic inefficiencies due to rapid deep drainage beyond the root zone in karstic systems.

Related Benchmarks

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

10 mm/hr Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Conservation Target
MinimumOnly Active v1