Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-TSR-CON-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

10 mm/hr

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: MaximumOnly

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 Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

A Critical Failure Threshold can be defined at < 10 mm/hr.

Metric Definition:

Soil water infiltration rate below which critical hydrological failure occurs.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the critical soil water infiltration rate below which the soil is effectively sealed, causing severe runoff, erosion, and risk of irreversible land degradation in tropical and subtropical rainforest conservation areas.

Justification:

Supported by research on agricultural soils showing severe runoff and erosion at this infiltration rate.

Sources (2)

Preview of Gageler, R., et al. (2014). Restoring soil carbon, nitrogen and functionality in an Australian tropical catchment: a chronosequence approach. PLOS ONE, 9(8), e104198.

Gageler, R., et al. (2014). Restoring soil carbon, nitrogen and functionality in an Australian tropical catchment: a chronosequence approach. PLOS ONE, 9(8), e104198. Journal

Early Response of Soil Properties and Function to Riparian Rainforest Restoration - PMC

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Soil challenge - Method guides collection - v04 - partner ...

Soils with low infiltration capacity - Minnesota Stormwater Manual

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Supporting Sources (6)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

(PDF) Impacts of soil damage by grazing livestock on crop productivity

Direct Evidence Journal

Early Response of Soil Properties and Function to Riparian Rainforest Restoration | PLOS One - Research journals

View Source

Bioregions and EVC benchmarks - Environment, accessed August 5, 2025,

Direct Evidence Government

TASVEG VCA Manual: A manual for assessing vegetation condition in Tasmania, Version 2.0. Natural and Cultural Heritage, Department of

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Chapter 5 Soil crusting and sealing - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Chapter 5 Soil crusting and sealing - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

View Source

Early Response of Soil Properties and Function to Riparian Rainforest Restoration - PMC, accessed August 2, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

Early Response of Soil Properties and Function to Riparian Rainforest Restoration - PMC, accessed August 2, 2025

View Source

Early response of soil properties and function to riparian rainforest restoration - PubMed, accessed August 2, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

Early response of soil properties and function to riparian rainforest restoration - PubMed, accessed August 2, 2025

View Source

Runoff generation in tropical forests (Chapter 14) - Forests, Water and People in the Humid Tropics - Cambridge University Press

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Runoff generation in tropical forests (Chapter 14) - Forests, Water and People in the Humid Tropics - Cambridge University Press

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Pristine Reference
Vegetation Forest
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

Signifies a state of near-total hydrological failure and irreversible land degradation risk.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSR-CON-SWI family.