Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-AKW-LVG-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

50 mm/hr

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: Point

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is Point, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Evidence & Context

The reference value of 50 mm/hr represents the steady-state infiltration rate for a highly functional, vegetated 'patch' on Calcareous Loam soils, which are dominant in this biome.

Metric Definition:

Soil Water Infiltration Rate measured as the steady-state infiltration rate in mm/hr for functional vegetated patches on Calcareous Loam soils.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the steady-state infiltration rate for highly functional vegetated patches on Calcareous Loam soils in the Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands biome under livestock grazing and pasture land use.

Justification:

Derived from direct field measurements in Australian rangelands distinguishing functional (49.2 mm/hr) and dysfunctional (7.8 mm/hr) patches, corroborated by studies in analogous semi-arid woodlands and grass steppes.

Sources (1)

Using a landscape functional approach to soil health Journal

Using a landscape functional approach to soil health

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Supporting Sources (10)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation ...

Contextual Support Journal

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation ...

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Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? - Great Barrier Reef Foundation, accessed July 28, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? - Great Barrier Reef Foundation, accessed July 23, 2025

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Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from, accessed August 5, 2025,

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from, accessed August 5, 2025,

Direct Evidence

The effect of climate change on pastoralism in the Australian arid and semi-arid rangelands - Nuffield Farming Scholarships, accessed July 29, 2025,

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

Contextual Support

General Soil Water Infiltration Rate Classification

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

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Identifying and addressing sustainable pasture and grazing ..., accessed July 23, 2025

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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

Cross Reference GreyLiterature

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

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Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source

Preview of Observations of soil moisture and infiltrability in contour-aligned, banded chenopod shrubland at Fowlers Gap, arid western NSW, Australia

Observations of soil moisture and infiltrability in contour-aligned, banded chenopod shrubland at Fowlers Gap, arid western NSW, Australia

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

View Source

Rangeland Soil Quality: Infiltration - Natural Resources Conservation Service

Contextual Support Journal

Rangeland Soil Quality: Infiltration - Natural Resources Conservation Service

View Source

Thresholds in Ecological and Social-Ecological Systems: A Developing Database

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Thresholds in Ecological and Social–Ecological Systems: a Developing Database

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold exists in this water-limited context. This benchmark represents a state of high ecological health achievable under best-practice regenerative grazing that enhances ground cover and soil health.

Related Benchmarks

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