Soil Moisture

AUS-TGP-AGR-SMO General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 15 to 40 % VWC
Optimal Range: 15 to 40
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 optimal functional range is between the Refill Point (onset of stress) and Field Capacity.

Metric Definition:

Soil moisture range between the Refill Point (approx. -20 to -60 kPa) and Field Capacity representing the optimal functional range for ecological health and productivity.

Benchmark Definition:

The optimal functional range of soil moisture between the Refill Point and Field Capacity supports plant and microbial life without stress, maximizing productivity in temperate grassy woodlands agricultural cropping systems.

Justification:

Within this range, soil moisture supports plant and microbial life without stress or anoxia, maximizing productivity and ecological function.

Sources (1)

Preview of Altered soil microbial community at elevated CO2 leads to loss of ..., accessed August 9, 2025
Altered soil microbial community at elevated CO2 leads to loss of ..., accessed August 9, 2025 Journal

A functional framework for soil moisture benchmarks in Australian temperate cropping systems based on Field Capacity (FC) and Permanent Wilting Point (PWP)

View Source

Supporting Sources (39)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 5. Field capacity (FC; a), permanent wilting point (PWP; b), and... | Download Scientific Diagram - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,
5. Field capacity (FC; a), permanent wilting point (PWP; b), and... | Download Scientific Diagram - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

AUS-TSW-AGR-SMO-20250707: Soil Moisture Benchmark Research for Nature Index (Expert Synthesis)

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A Health Check for our Agricultural Soils - Enviro Data SA, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

A Health Check for our Agricultural Soils - Enviro Data SA

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Preview of A review of soil waterlogging impacts, mechanisms, and adaptive strategies - PMC, accessed August 4, 2025,
A review of soil waterlogging impacts, mechanisms, and adaptive strategies - PMC, accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The impact of soil water on soil constraints and crop growth - GRDC, accessed August 4, 2025,

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Preview of Accessing disparate soil data - TERN Australia, accessed August 4, 2025,
Accessing disparate soil data - TERN Australia, accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

ASRIS Soil Data Web API, accessed March 28, 2026,

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Preview of An Updated Australian Soil Classification Map | TERN Australia, accessed on June 5, 2025
An Updated Australian Soil Classification Map | TERN Australia, accessed on June 5, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Accessing disparate soil data | TERN Australia

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Preview of Australian Soils and Landscapes | Monitoring & Data | TERN - esoil.io, accessed July 30, 2025,
Australian Soils and Landscapes | Monitoring & Data | TERN - esoil.io, accessed July 30, 2025,
Methodology Source Government

Australian Soils and Landscapes | Monitoring & Data | TERN - esoil.io

View Source
Preview of Can soil organic matter be increased in a continuous cropping system in the low to medium rainfall zone? | Birchip Cropping Group
Can soil organic matter be increased in a continuous cropping system in the low to medium rainfall zone? | Birchip Cropping Group
Contextual Support

(PDF) Soil carbon dynamics under different cropping and pasture management in temperate Australia: Results of three long-term experiments - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Chameleon soil water sensor - CSIRO, accessed August 4, 2025,
Chameleon soil water sensor - CSIRO, accessed August 4, 2025,
Methodology Source Government

Chameleon soil water sensor - CSIRO, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Chapter 9 AUSTRALIAN GRASSLANDS - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, accessed August 9, 2025
Chapter 9 AUSTRALIAN GRASSLANDS - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, accessed August 9, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Chapter 9 AUSTRALIAN GRASSLANDS - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, accessed August 9, 2025

View Source
Preview of Cover Crops for Sustainable Cropping Systems: A Review - MDPI, accessed July 23, 2025,
Cover Crops for Sustainable Cropping Systems: A Review - MDPI, accessed July 23, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

BioCondition: A condition assessment framework for terrestrial biodiversity in Queensland, accessed July 23, 2025,

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Preview of Crops that perform well in waterlogged conditions – will that become a reality? - GRDC, accessed August 4, 2025,
Crops that perform well in waterlogged conditions – will that become a reality? - GRDC, accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Crops that perform well in waterlogged conditions – will that become a reality? - GRDC, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Estimating Plant Available Water Capacity - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), accessed August 4, 2025,
Estimating Plant Available Water Capacity - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support

Estimating Plant Available Water Capacity - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Grasslands and Grassy Woodlands of the VVP: Landholders Guide - Greening Australia, accessed August 11, 2025,
Grasslands and Grassy Woodlands of the VVP: Landholders Guide - Greening Australia, accessed August 11, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

www.greeningaustralia.org.au, accessed May 17, 2025

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Preview of Grassy eucalypt woodland of the Victorian volcanic plain - listing advice, accessed August 4, 2025
Grassy eucalypt woodland of the Victorian volcanic plain - listing advice, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Conservation Assessment of White Box – Yellow Box – Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - Environment and Heritage - NSW Government, accessed August 12, 2025

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Preview of Interpretation of Soil Moisture Content to Determine Soil Field Capacity and Avoid Over-Irrigating Sandy Soils Using Soil Moisture Sensors - UF/IFAS EDIS, accessed July 7, 2025,
Interpretation of Soil Moisture Content to Determine Soil Field Capacity and Avoid Over-Irrigating Sandy Soils Using Soil Moisture Sensors - UF/IFAS EDIS, accessed July 7, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

7.10 Soil water storage, capacity, and fluxes - NIWA Client report, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Modern Soil Moisture Monitoring for Drought Resilience, accessed August 4, 2025,
Modern Soil Moisture Monitoring for Drought Resilience, accessed August 4, 2025,
Methodology Source Journal

Modern Soil Moisture Monitoring for Drought Resilience, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of NVIS Fact sheet MVG 19 6 Tussock grasslands, accessed July 16, 2025,
NVIS Fact sheet MVG 19 6 Tussock grasslands, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Understanding soil pH, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Plant Available Water Capacity – crop and varietal differences in soil water extraction, accessed August 4, 2025,
Plant Available Water Capacity – crop and varietal differences in soil water extraction, accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Plant Available Water Capacity – crop and varietal differences in soil water extraction, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Plant available water: How do I determine field capacity and permanent wilting point?, accessed July 7, 2025,
Plant available water: How do I determine field capacity and permanent wilting point?, accessed July 7, 2025,
Methodology Source GreyLiterature

A global dataset of remote sensing-based soil critical point and ...

View Source
Preview of PO 12. Know the relationship between soil water content, soil water tension and soil pore size and the following soil parameters (and qualitatively understand how these parameters vary for different soil types) and their relationships to plant growth and the fate and transport of nutrients and pesticides. - Northeast Region Certified Crop Adviser (NRCCA) Study Resources, accessed July 7, 2025,
PO 12. Know the relationship between soil water content, soil water tension and soil pore size and the following soil parameters (and qualitatively understand how these parameters vary for different soil types) and their relationships to plant growth and the fate and transport of nutrients and pesticides. - Northeast Region Certified Crop Adviser (NRCCA) Study Resources, accessed July 7, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Wilting Point Of Crops: Temporary & Permanent Limits - EOS Data Analytics

View Source
Preview of Procedure for Soil Respiration (CO2 Evolution from Rewetting a Dried Soil) - Soil Fertility, accessed July 9, 2025
Procedure for Soil Respiration (CO2 Evolution from Rewetting a Dried Soil) - Soil Fertility, accessed July 9, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Tool 6.7 Soil health benchmarks and guidelines for managing ...

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Preview of Processes underpinning natural capital account compilation highlight the potential for low-input grazing to mitigate farm carbon emissions while also improving biodiversity outcomes - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed August 12, 2025,
Processes underpinning natural capital account compilation highlight the potential for low-input grazing to mitigate farm carbon emissions while also improving biodiversity outcomes - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Vegetation change in an urban grassy woodland 1974–2000 - CSIRO Publishing

View Source
Preview of Processes underpinning natural capital account compilation highlight the potential for low-input grazing to mitigate farm carbon emissions while also improving biodiversity outcomes - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed August 4, 2025,
Processes underpinning natural capital account compilation highlight the potential for low-input grazing to mitigate farm carbon emissions while also improving biodiversity outcomes - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Processes underpinning natural capital account compilation highlight the potential for low-input grazing to mitigate farm carbon emissions while also improving biodiversity outcomes - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Regenerative Agriculture - a literature review on the practices and mechanisms used to improve soil health - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 5, 2025,
Regenerative Agriculture - a literature review on the practices and mechanisms used to improve soil health - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support

Regenerative Agriculture Program restoring soil pH case study: Macdonald, Whites Flat/Koppio

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Preview of Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face ... - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025,
Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face ... - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face ... - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025,

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Preview of Restore the Soil: Prosper the Nation, accessed August 4, 2025,
Restore the Soil: Prosper the Nation, accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Restore the Soil: Prosper the Nation, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Restore the Soil: Prosper the Nation, accessed May 11, 2025
Restore the Soil: Prosper the Nation, accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia

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Preview of Snapshot of Australian Agriculture 2025 - DAFF, accessed July 8, 2025
Snapshot of Australian Agriculture 2025 - DAFF, accessed July 8, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Snapshot of Australian Agriculture 2025 - DAFF, accessed July 27, 2025,

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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

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Preview of Soil and Crop Management Practices to Minimize the Impact of Waterlogging on Crop Productivity - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed August 4, 2025,
Soil and Crop Management Practices to Minimize the Impact of Waterlogging on Crop Productivity - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Soil Infiltration | Agronomic Crops Network - The Ohio State University

View Source
Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - CSIRO, accessed July 30, 2025,
Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - CSIRO, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia - CSIRO

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Preview of Soil Quality Indicators - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed August 4, 2025,
Soil Quality Indicators - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Section 2.1.4.5 Modelling soil structure - ECMWF Confluence Wiki, accessed August 4, 2025,

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Preview of Soil Water - Tas | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed August 4, 2025,
Soil Water - Tas | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

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

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Preview of ten key steps to conserving Australia's temperate eucalypt woodlands - the UWA Profiles and Research Repository, accessed August 4, 2025
ten key steps to conserving Australia's temperate eucalypt woodlands - the UWA Profiles and Research Repository, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support

Sustainable forest management and the ecosystem approach - an Australian perspective

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Preview of ten key steps to conserving Australia's temperate eucalypt woodlands - the UWA Profiles and Research Repository, accessed August 4, 2025,
ten key steps to conserving Australia's temperate eucalypt woodlands - the UWA Profiles and Research Repository, accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

SL450/SS664: The Importance of Soil Health for Residential Landscapes - UF/IFAS EDIS, accessed August 4, 2025,

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Preview of TERN Soil Data Federator - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed May 16, 2025,
TERN Soil Data Federator - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed May 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

TERN Soil Data Federator - CSIRO Data Access Portal

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Preview of Tool 6.7 Soil health benchmarks and guidelines for managing ..., accessed August 4, 2025,
Tool 6.7 Soil health benchmarks and guidelines for managing ..., accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Tool 6.7 Soil health benchmarks and guidelines for managing ..., accessed August 4, 2025,

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Preview of Understanding the impacts of farming practices on the soil microbiome as a sustainable approach to crop production. - CSIRO Research, accessed July 9, 2025
Understanding the impacts of farming practices on the soil microbiome as a sustainable approach to crop production. - CSIRO Research, accessed July 9, 2025
Contextual Support Government

COMPARISON OF TWO TILLAGE PRACTICES ON A SEMI-ARID, accessed July 22, 2025

View Source
Preview of Waterlogging in Australian agricultural landscapes: a review of plant responses and crop models - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,
Waterlogging in Australian agricultural landscapes: a review of plant responses and crop models - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Waterlogging in Australian agricultural landscapes: a review of plant responses and crop models - ResearchGate

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

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

Notes

This 'green zone' is the target range for sustainable agricultural management to maintain soil moisture health.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-AGR-SMO family.

— % VWC Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Conservation Target
OptimalRange Active v1