Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-TGP-CON-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

10 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.

Evidence & Context

A lower critical threshold is proposed at an infiltration rate of ≤10 mm/hr. This value is directly supported by field measurements on cultivated, fine-textured soils within the target biome, representing a state where the soil's natural structure and biological function have been effectively destroyed.

Metric Definition:

Lower critical threshold infiltration rate indicating functional collapse of soil structure and biological activity.

Benchmark Definition:

This lower critical threshold marks the infiltration rate below which soil structure and biological function collapse, leading to severe ecological degradation.

Justification:

This threshold marks the point below which soil structure and biological function are effectively destroyed, leading to severe ecological consequences.

Sources (1)

Preview of Ecosystem wicks: Woodland trees enhance water infiltration in a fragmented agricultural landscape in eastern Australia
Ecosystem wicks: Woodland trees enhance water infiltration in a fragmented agricultural landscape in eastern Australia Journal

Ecosystem wicks: Woodland trees enhance water infiltration in a fragmented agricultural landscape in eastern Australia

View Source

Supporting Sources (17)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Restoring ecological function in temperate grassy woodlands - manipulating soil nutrients, annual exotics and native perennial grasses through carbon supplements and spring burns - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,
(PDF) Restoring ecological function in temperate grassy woodlands - manipulating soil nutrients, annual exotics and native perennial grasses through carbon supplements and spring burns - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers

View Source
Preview of A guide to managing Box Gum Grassy Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025
A guide to managing Box Gum Grassy Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Manning, A. D., Cunningham, R. B., Tongway, D., & Lindenmayer, D. B. (2020). Woodlands and woody debris: Understanding structure and composition to inform restoration. PLoS ONE, 15(3), e0224258.

View Source
Preview of Diversity and abundance of biological soil crust taxa in relation to fine and coarse-scale disturbances in a grassy eucalypt woo, accessed August 11, 2025
Diversity and abundance of biological soil crust taxa in relation to fine and coarse-scale disturbances in a grassy eucalypt woo, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Select Publications by Dr David John Eldridge | UNSW Research, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of Environmental Stewardship - Box Gum Grassy Woodland Project - Information Booklet - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Environmental Stewardship - Box Gum Grassy Woodland Project - Information Booklet - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

The Nature of Soil - Local Land Services

View Source
Preview of How do fire regimes affect ecosystem structure, function and ..., accessed August 11, 2025
How do fire regimes affect ecosystem structure, function and ..., accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

How do fire regimes affect ecosystem structure, function and ..., accessed August 11, 2025

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 Infiltration for Soil Quality | South Dakota Soil Health Coalition, accessed August 11, 2025
Infiltration for Soil Quality | South Dakota Soil Health Coalition, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Infiltration for Soil Quality | South Dakota Soil Health Coalition, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of Microsite and grazing intensity drive infiltration in a semi-arid woodland - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025
Microsite and grazing intensity drive infiltration in a semi-arid woodland - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support

Grazing dampens the positive effects of shrub ... - Arid Ecology Lab, accessed July 11, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Modelling the Potential of Integrated Vegetation Bands (IVB) to Retain Stormwater Runoff on Steep Hillslopes of - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland, accessed August 11, 2025
Modelling the Potential of Integrated Vegetation Bands (IVB) to Retain Stormwater Runoff on Steep Hillslopes of - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Modelling the Potential of Integrated Vegetation Bands (IVB) to Retain Stormwater Runoff on Steep Hillslopes of - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of National Recovery Plan for White Box–Yellow Box ... - DCCEEW, accessed August 11, 2025
National Recovery Plan for White Box–Yellow Box ... - DCCEEW, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Themeda australis grasslands on the Basalt Plains

View Source
Preview of Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands: a nationally protected ecological community - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands: a nationally protected ecological community - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern ... - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of Rangeland Soil Quality: Infiltration - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 6, 2025,
Rangeland Soil Quality: Infiltration - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Understanding Soil Infiltration - Ideal Geotech

View Source
Preview of Rehabilitation of Grassy Box Woodland –A ... - Whitehaven Coal, accessed August 11, 2025
Rehabilitation of Grassy Box Woodland –A ... - Whitehaven Coal, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Rehabilitation of Grassy Box Woodland –A ... - Whitehaven Coal, accessed August 11, 2025

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

View Source
Preview of Soil Infiltration | Agronomic Crops Network - The Ohio State University, accessed August 11, 2025
Soil Infiltration | Agronomic Crops Network - The Ohio State University, accessed August 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Infiltration | Agronomic Crops Network - The Ohio State University, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil Infiltration | Agronomic Crops Network - The Ohio State University, accessed July 6, 2025,
Soil Infiltration | Agronomic Crops Network - The Ohio State University, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Farming and national environment law, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. (n.d.). Soil Quality Indicators: Infiltration.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. (n.d.). Soil Quality Indicators: Infiltration.
Contextual Support Journal

Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS)

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Degradation Threshold
  • Vegetation Woodland
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Below this threshold, the soil has lost its capacity to absorb rainfall, leading to accelerated runoff, erosion, and reduced ecosystem productivity.

Related Benchmarks

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

150 mm/hr Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference · Woodland
Point Active v1
— mm/hr Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference · Woodland
OptimalRange Active v1