Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-TGP-FOR-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

20 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. The scoring engine uses 6 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 5 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Based on this weight of evidence, a lower critical threshold of < 20 mm/hr is proposed.

Metric Definition:

Steady-state soil water infiltration rate

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines a lower critical threshold below which soil hydrological function is severely compromised, leading to runoff and erosion in temperate grassy woodlands and plains under production forestry.

Justification:

The threshold is based on empirical data from heavily impacted forestry sites including logged forests, compacted snig tracks, and log landings, as well as general forestry literature indicating severe dysfunction below 5 mm/hr.

Supporting Sources (32)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of A Comparison of Three Methodologies for Determining Soil Infiltration Capacity in Thicketized Oak Woodlands and Adjacent Grasslands - MDPI
A Comparison of Three Methodologies for Determining Soil Infiltration Capacity in Thicketized Oak Woodlands and Adjacent Grasslands - MDPI
Contextual Support Journal

A Comparison of Three Methodologies for Determining Soil Infiltration Capacity in Thicketized Oak Woodlands and Adjacent Grasslands - MDPI

View Source
Preview of Assessing the Extent and Severity of the Impact on Forest Soils of Two Different Fully Mechanized Timber Harvesting Operations - MDPI, accessed August 10, 2025,
Assessing the Extent and Severity of the Impact on Forest Soils of Two Different Fully Mechanized Timber Harvesting Operations - MDPI, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Assessing the Extent and Severity of the Impact on Forest Soils of Two Different Fully Mechanized Timber Harvesting Operations - MDPI, accessed August 10, 2025

View Source
Preview of Australia's State of the Forests Report 2018 13 Criterion 4 - DAFF, accessed August 1, 2025,
Australia's State of the Forests Report 2018 13 Criterion 4 - DAFF, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Temperate forests and soils [Chapter 6]

View Source
Preview of Clear-fell harvest impacts on biodiversity: Past research and the search for harvest size thresholds - ResearchGate
Clear-fell harvest impacts on biodiversity: Past research and the search for harvest size thresholds - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

Cumulative infiltration values at the skid trail and control point in... - ResearchGate

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 Effects of fire on properties of forest soils: a review
Effects of fire on properties of forest soils: a review
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Effects of fire on properties of forest soils: a review

View Source
Preview of Forests and hydrological services: reconciling public and science perceptions - GOV.UK
Forests and hydrological services: reconciling public and science perceptions - GOV.UK
Contextual Support Journal

Forests and hydrological services: reconciling public and science perceptions - GOV.UK

View Source
Preview of Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,
Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support

Is there a close association between 'soils' and 'vegetation'? A case study from central western New South Wales, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Harvest operations and soil sustainability: A review - USDA Forest Service, accessed August 10, 2025,
Harvest operations and soil sustainability: A review - USDA Forest Service, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support

Significant and persistent impact of timber harvesting on soil ..., accessed August 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Hydraulic Properties of Forest Soils with Stagnic Conditions
Hydraulic Properties of Forest Soils with Stagnic Conditions
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Tree Roots Improve Soil Infiltration Rates | DeepRoot Blog

View Source
Preview of Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,
Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states - ResearchGate, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Impacts of Wildfire Severity on Hydraulic Conductivity in Forest, Woodland, and Grassland Soils, accessed May 15, 2025,
Impacts of Wildfire Severity on Hydraulic Conductivity in Forest, Woodland, and Grassland Soils, accessed May 15, 2025,
Direct Evidence

Hydraulic conductivity in forest, woodland and grassland soils in Australia and the effects of fire

View Source
Preview of Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Infiltration Infiltration Management - USDA, accessed July 6, 2025,
Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Infiltration Infiltration Management - USDA, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Infiltration Infiltration ... - USDA

View Source
Preview of Management options for water-repellent soils in ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 6, 2025,
Management options for water-repellent soils in ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Management options for water-repellent soils in ... - CSIRO Publishing

View Source
Preview of Protect remnant vegetation – ANU Sustainable Farms, accessed August 4, 2025
Protect remnant vegetation – ANU Sustainable Farms, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Effects of Stock Grazing on Biodiversity Values in Temperate Native Grasslands and Grassy Woodlands in SE Australia: A Literature Review - ACT Government, accessed August 12, 2025

View Source
Preview of Rainfall infiltration and soil hydrological characteristics below ancient forest, planted forest, and grassland in a temperate n - Abertay University
Rainfall infiltration and soil hydrological characteristics below ancient forest, planted forest, and grassland in a temperate n - Abertay University
Contextual Support

Recovery of saturated hydraulic conductivity along a forest successional series from abandoned land to mature, evergreen broad-leaved forest in eastern China - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Soil Research

View Source
Preview of Review of the current state of knowledge for the monitoring of forestry impacts on waterway health in NSW coastal forests - Natural Resources Commission, accessed August 9, 2025
Review of the current state of knowledge for the monitoring of forestry impacts on waterway health in NSW coastal forests - Natural Resources Commission, accessed August 9, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Review of the current state of knowledge for the monitoring of ..., accessed July 31, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Significant and persistent impact of timber harvesting on soil ..., accessed August 9, 2025,
Significant and persistent impact of timber harvesting on soil ..., accessed August 9, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate ..., accessed August 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Significant and persistent impact of timber harvesting on soil microbial communities in Northern coniferous forests - PubMed Central
Significant and persistent impact of timber harvesting on soil microbial communities in Northern coniferous forests - PubMed Central
Contextual Support Journal

Significant and persistent impact of timber harvesting on soil microbial communities in Northern coniferous forests - PubMed Central

View Source
Preview of Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021
Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021
Contextual Support Government

Linkages between forest soils and water quality and quantity

View Source
Preview of Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 3, 2025,
Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

D11 Control of Erosion and Sedimentation (Design) - Wingecarribee Shire Council

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 Infiltration Characteristics in Agroforestry Systems and Their Relationships with the Temporal Distribution of Rainfall on the Loess Plateau in China - PMC
Soil Infiltration Characteristics in Agroforestry Systems and Their Relationships with the Temporal Distribution of Rainfall on the Loess Plateau in China - PMC
Contextual Support Government

Soil Infiltration Characteristics in Agroforestry Systems and Their Relationships with the Temporal Distribution of Rainfall on the Loess Plateau in China - PMC

View Source
Preview of Soil Recovery Assessment after Timber Harvesting Based on the Sustainable Forest Operation (SFO) Perspective in Iranian Temperate Forests - MDPI
Soil Recovery Assessment after Timber Harvesting Based on the Sustainable Forest Operation (SFO) Perspective in Iranian Temperate Forests - MDPI
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Recovery Assessment after Timber Harvesting Based on the Sustainable Forest Operation (SFO) Perspective in Iranian Temperate Forests - MDPI

View Source
Preview of Soil-water characteristic curves and related properties of disturbed forest soils - Open Access CAAS Agricultural Journals
Soil-water characteristic curves and related properties of disturbed forest soils - Open Access CAAS Agricultural Journals
Contextual Support

Soil-water characteristic curves and related properties of disturbed forest soils - Open Access CAAS Agricultural Journals

View Source
Preview of Temperate forests and soils [Chapter 6]
Temperate forests and soils [Chapter 6]
Contextual Support Journal

Temperate forests and soils [Chapter 6]

View Source
Preview of Temperate forests and soils [Chapter 6], accessed August 10, 2025,
Temperate forests and soils [Chapter 6], accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support

A review of the potential impacts of different fire regimes on soil erosion and sedimentation, nutrient and carb

View Source
Preview of The effect of afforestation on water infiltration in the tropics: A systematic review and meta-analysis | Request PDF - ResearchGate
The effect of afforestation on water infiltration in the tropics: A systematic review and meta-analysis | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Meta Analysis Journal

The effect of afforestation on water infiltration in the tropics: A systematic review and meta-analysis | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of The impact of artificial watering points on rangeland biodiversity: A review - Ninti One
The impact of artificial watering points on rangeland biodiversity: A review - Ninti One
Contextual Support Journal

The effect of trees on preferential flow and soil infiltrability in an agroforestry parkland in semiarid Burkina Faso - PubMed Central

View Source
Preview of Timber Harvesting in Mountainous Regions: A Comprehensive Review - MDPI, accessed July 24, 2025,
Timber Harvesting in Mountainous Regions: A Comprehensive Review - MDPI, accessed July 24, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Full article: A review of the impacts of sustainable harvesting, non-harvest management and wildfire on net carbon emissions from Australian native forests - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source
Preview of Water repellent soils - CSIRO
Water repellent soils - CSIRO
Contextual Support Government

Water repellent soils - CSIRO

View Source
Preview of Wildfire effects on soils and soil processes - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 24, 2025,
Wildfire effects on soils and soil processes - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 24, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The dynamics of microbial biomass C [MBC (a, b)] and N [MBN (c, d)]...

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Superseded
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 7 Jun 2026
  • Effective To 7 Jun 2026

Notes

Soil with infiltration rates below this threshold is considered critically degraded and unsustainable for temperate woodland ecosystems.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-FOR-SWI family.

90 mm/hr Moderate
Production Forestry · Conservation Target
MinimumOnly Active v2
— mm/hr Moderate
Production Forestry · Conservation Target
OptimalRange Active v1