Soil Moisture

AUS-AKW-LVG-SMO General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

4 % VWC
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: MinimumOnly

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, 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.

Contributing Benchmarks

CompositeFramework Primary OptimalRange Guard Point Guard CompositeFramework Guard MinimumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard LowerThreshold Guard CompositeFramework Guard

Evidence & Context

A recent study analyzing 22 years of global soil moisture data identified a modal PWP value of 0.04 m³/m³, or 4% Volumetric Water Content.

Metric Definition:

Permanent Wilting Point (PWP), the biophysical limit where soil water is held too tightly for plants to extract.

Benchmark Definition:

Permanent Wilting Point (PWP) is the soil moisture level below which plants cannot extract water, representing a critical lower boundary for ecosystem function in the Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands biome under livestock grazing and pasture land use.

Justification:

This value is a robust global-scale estimate derived from remote sensing data and is consistent for arid zones globally.

Sources (1)

Preview of A global dataset of remote sensing-based soil critical point and permanent wilting point
A global dataset of remote sensing-based soil critical point and permanent wilting point Journal

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

View Source

Supporting Sources (29)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of A global meta-analysis of livestock grazing impacts on soil properties - PubMed
A global meta-analysis of livestock grazing impacts on soil properties - PubMed
Contextual Support MetaAnalysis

A global meta-analysis of livestock grazing impacts on soil properties - PubMed

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Preview of Australia's bioregions (IBRA) - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025
Australia's bioregions (IBRA) - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support

Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA), Version 7 (Regions)

View Source
Preview of AUSTRALIAN chenopod shrublands - Ecosystem Guides, accessed July 27, 2025
AUSTRALIAN chenopod shrublands - Ecosystem Guides, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Karst and agriculture in Australia - Digital Commons @ USF, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Can simple, on-ground vegetation and soil measures reliably indicate the health of rangelands? An application in Australia's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 30, 2025
Can simple, on-ground vegetation and soil measures reliably indicate the health of rangelands? An application in Australia's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

The Rangeland Journal - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed July 10, 2025

View Source
Preview of Chenopod shrublands, samphire shrublands - Australian Vegetation - Australian National Botanic Gardens
Chenopod shrublands, samphire shrublands - Australian Vegetation - Australian National Botanic Gardens
Contextual Support Journal

Chenopod shrublands, samphire shrublands - Australian Vegetation - Australian National Botanic Gardens

View Source
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,
Contextual Support

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

View Source
Preview of Effect of Grazing Treatment on Soil Moisture in Semiarid Rangelands - ISU's GIS TReC
Effect of Grazing Treatment on Soil Moisture in Semiarid Rangelands - ISU's GIS TReC
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Effect of Grazing Treatment on Soil Moisture in Semiarid Rangelands - ISU's GIS TReC

View Source
Preview of Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 10, 2025,
Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space for time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Great Western Woodlands SuperSite | Climate Change Impacts - TERN Australia, accessed July 10, 2025,
Great Western Woodlands SuperSite | Climate Change Impacts - TERN Australia, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

URBAN FOREST STRATEGY - Your Say South Perth, accessed July 13, 2025

View Source
Preview of Hans Lambers Editor - On the Ecology of Australia's Arid Zone - eScholarship, accessed July 6, 2025,
Hans Lambers Editor - On the Ecology of Australia's Arid Zone - eScholarship, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Hans Lambers Editor - On the Ecology of Australia's Arid Zone - eScholarship.org

View Source
Preview of Karst | Geoscience Australia, accessed July 26, 2025,
Karst | Geoscience Australia, accessed July 26, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Karst | Geoscience Australia, accessed July 25, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Karst wetlands - WetlandInfo, accessed July 26, 2025,
Karst wetlands - WetlandInfo, accessed July 26, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Karst wetlands - WetlandInfo, accessed July 25, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Management of grazing intensity in the semi-arid rangelands of Southern Australia: Effects on soil and biodiversity - Charles Sturt University Research Output
Management of grazing intensity in the semi-arid rangelands of Southern Australia: Effects on soil and biodiversity - Charles Sturt University Research Output
Contextual Support Journal

Management of grazing intensity in the semi-arid rangelands of Southern Australia: Effects on soil and biodiversity - Charles Sturt University Research Output

View Source
Preview of Management of grazing intensity in the semi-arid rangelands of Southern Australia: Effects on soil and biodiversity - Charles Sturt University Research Output
Management of grazing intensity in the semi-arid rangelands of Southern Australia: Effects on soil and biodiversity - Charles Sturt University Research Output
Contextual Support Journal

Management of grazing intensity in the semi-arid rangelands of Southern Australia: Effects on soil and biodiversity - Charles Sturt University Research Output

View Source
Preview of Mechanisms of Waterlogging Tolerance in Plants: Research Progress and Prospects - PMC
Mechanisms of Waterlogging Tolerance in Plants: Research Progress and Prospects - PMC
Contextual Support

Effect of Waterlogging and Drought Stress in Plants - IDOSI

View Source
Preview of National Guidelines for Water Quality - Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, accessed July 25, 2025,
National Guidelines for Water Quality - Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

National Guidelines for Water Quality - Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of NVIS Fact sheet MVG 22 – Chenopod shrublands, samphire shrublands and forblands - DCCEEW, accessed July 24, 2025
NVIS Fact sheet MVG 22 – Chenopod shrublands, samphire shrublands and forblands - DCCEEW, accessed July 24, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

A Case for Below-Ground Dispersal? Insights into the Biology, Ecology and Conservation of Blind Cave Spiders in the Genus Troglodiplura (Mygalomorphae: Anamidae) - PubMed Central, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Plant available water capacity of dryland cropping soils in the south-eastern Australia, accessed August 6, 2025
Plant available water capacity of dryland cropping soils in the south-eastern Australia, accessed August 6, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Plant available water capacity of dryland cropping soils in the south-eastern Australia, accessed August 6, 2025

View Source
Preview of Prediction of Soil Field Capacity and Permanent Wilting Point Using Accessible Parameters by Machine Learning - MDPI
Prediction of Soil Field Capacity and Permanent Wilting Point Using Accessible Parameters by Machine Learning - MDPI
Methodology Source Journal

Prediction of Soil Field Capacity and Permanent Wilting Point Using Accessible Parameters by Machine Learning - MDPI

View Source
Preview of Rangeland condition: its meaning and use - a discussion paper - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025
Rangeland condition: its meaning and use - a discussion paper - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Productivity flourishes in arid lands | Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 19, 2025

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA
Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 25, 2025
Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Grazing support programs | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed July 25, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Regenerative Grazing: 3 Different Approaches - Shorthandstories.com, accessed August 5, 2025,
Regenerative Grazing: 3 Different Approaches - Shorthandstories.com, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative Grazing: 3 Different Approaches - Shorthandstories.com

View Source
Preview of Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review, accessed July 18, 2025,
Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support

Grazing Practices and Soil Moisture | National Drought Mitigation Center

View Source
Preview of Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW Department of Primary Industries
Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW Department of Primary Industries
Contextual Support Government

Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW Department of Primary Industries

View Source
Preview of Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed August 6, 2025,
Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed August 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of The South-East Karst Province, its regions and geology. CF = Caroline... - ResearchGate
The South-East Karst Province, its regions and geology. CF = Caroline... - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

Overview of Australian Karst areas

View Source
Preview of Water available in soil, accessed July 7, 2025,
Water available in soil, accessed July 7, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

A review of soil waterlogging impacts, mechanisms, and adaptive strategies - Frontiers

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Below this threshold, plants cannot survive and ecological functions cease. It represents a critical lower boundary for ecosystem function. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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

— % VWC Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Not Stated
CompositeFramework Active v2
— % VWC Low
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Not Stated
CompositeFramework Superseded v1