Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-AMR-LVG-SWI General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 6 to 17.4 mm/hr

Optimal Range: 6 to 17.4

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 restored "ponded" areas had an average steady-state infiltration rate of 10.1 mm/hr (range: 6–17.4 mm/hr).

Metric Definition:

Steady-state infiltration rate, the soil's stable capacity to transmit water

Benchmark Definition:

Steady-state infiltration rate reflecting soil's stable water transmission capacity in restored ponded areas on Sandy Clay Loam soil.

Justification:

Derived from robust, context-specific government technical report measuring steady-state infiltration in restored sites.

Sources (2)

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

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Preview of Summary of infiltration rates in arid and semiarid regions of the world, with an annotated bibliography By MS Bedinger US

Summary of infiltration rates in arid and semiarid regions of the world, with an annotated bibliography By MS Bedinger US Journal

Water Infiltration Rates into Unponded and Ponded Soils in Central Australia - Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

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Supporting Sources (3)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Rangeland Soil Quality: Infiltration - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 6, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Understanding Soil Infiltration - Ideal Geotech

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Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Rangeland Soil Quality: Infiltration - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 18, 2025

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Restoration of degraded grazing country in the semi-arid areas of ..., accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Maintain and improve groundcover - Local Land Services

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Rehabilitation Target
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

Benchmark represents the observed range of steady-state infiltration rates from restored 'ponded' sites on Sandy Clay Loam soil, considered a 'best-on-offer' achievable state. No upper detrimental threshold exists.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AMR-LVG-SWI family.