Soil Moisture

AUS-ASC-AGR-SMO General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

20 % VWC
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 3 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 2 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

a proposed lower critical threshold for an Alpine Humus Loam (with an estimated PWP of 18-25% VWC) could be set in the range of 20-25% VWC.

Metric Definition:

Soil moisture, quantified as volumetric water content (VWC)

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the minimum volumetric water content (20%) for Alpine Humus Loam soils in the Australian Alpine and Subalpine Complex under agricultural crop production, below which significant water stress and soil function impairment occur.

Justification:

Sustained moisture below this level indicates significant water stress, compromising crop viability and essential soil ecological functions.

Sources (1)

Preview of National Soil Strategy, accessed August 3, 2025,
National Soil Strategy, accessed August 3, 2025, Journal

soils - of the australian alps

View Source

Supporting Sources (19)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Australia state of the environment 2021: land
Australia state of the environment 2021: land
Contextual Support Journal

Australia state of the environment 2021: land

View Source
Preview of Australian Alpine Plant Regeneration From Seed ... - Amazon S3
Australian Alpine Plant Regeneration From Seed ... - Amazon S3
Direct Evidence

Australian Alpine Plant Regeneration From Seed ... - Amazon S3

View Source
Preview of Climate change impacts on our soils - AdaptNSW
Climate change impacts on our soils - AdaptNSW
Contextual Support Journal

Climate change impacts on our soils - AdaptNSW

View Source
Preview of Getting the measure of soil moisture in Australia | TERN Australia, accessed July 19, 2025,
Getting the measure of soil moisture in Australia | TERN Australia, accessed July 19, 2025,
Methodology Source Government

Getting the measure of soil moisture in Australia | TERN Australia

View Source
Preview of Managing Soil Moisture – Case Studies of Growers in Western Australia - GRDC
Managing Soil Moisture – Case Studies of Growers in Western Australia - GRDC
Contextual Support Government

Managing Soil Moisture – Case Studies of Growers in Western Australia - GRDC

View Source
Preview of Mapping near-real-time soil moisture dynamics over Tasmania with transfer learning
Mapping near-real-time soil moisture dynamics over Tasmania with transfer learning
Regulatory Framework Journal

ACT Regional Drought Resilience Plan - DAFF

View Source
Preview of Murray-Darling Basin Authority. (n.d.). Acid sulfate soils.
Murray-Darling Basin Authority. (n.d.). Acid sulfate soils.
Direct Evidence Government

Managing berries in extreme wet weather - NSW Department of Primary Industries

View Source
Preview of Near-surface chemical properties of soils in the Australian Alps
Near-surface chemical properties of soils in the Australian Alps
Contextual Support Journal

Near-surface chemical properties of soils in the Australian Alps

View Source
Preview of Opportunities and Challenges for Cover Cropping in Sustainable Agriculture Systems in Southern Australia - MDPI, accessed July 18, 2025,
Opportunities and Challenges for Cover Cropping in Sustainable Agriculture Systems in Southern Australia - MDPI, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Developments in stubble retention in cropping systems in southern Australia, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture – Case studies from Western Australia, accessed May 13, 2025
Regenerative agriculture – Case studies from Western Australia, accessed May 13, 2025
Contextual Support

Soil management guides - NSW Department of Primary Industries

View Source
Preview of Risks to waterlogged crops - Business Queensland, accessed August 28, 2025
Risks to waterlogged crops - Business Queensland, accessed August 28, 2025
Direct Evidence Government

Acid sulfate soils - Murray–Darling Basin Authority

View Source
Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Available Volumetric Water Capacity (Percent) - TERN Data Discovery Portal
Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Available Volumetric Water Capacity (Percent) - TERN Data Discovery Portal
Direct Evidence

Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Available Volumetric Water Capacity (Percent) - TERN Data Discovery Portal

View Source
Preview of Soil management guides - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 30, 2025,
Soil management guides - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 30, 2025,
Direct Evidence Government

Managing soils during and after drought in cropping systems - Fact sheet - Soil CRC, accessed July 17, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil physical properties and their relation to organic carbon pools as affected by land use in an alpine pasture land
Soil physical properties and their relation to organic carbon pools as affected by land use in an alpine pasture land
Direct Evidence Journal

Soil physical properties and their relation to organic carbon pools as affected by land use in an alpine pasture land

View Source
Preview of Soil Quality Indicators - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 7, 2025,
Soil Quality Indicators - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 7, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Mixed Effects of Soil Compaction on the Nitrogen Cycle Under Pea and Wheat - PMC

View Source
Preview of Spatial Estimates of Soil Moisture for Understanding Ecological Potential and Risk: A Case Study for Arid and Semi-Arid Ecosystems - MDPI
Spatial Estimates of Soil Moisture for Understanding Ecological Potential and Risk: A Case Study for Arid and Semi-Arid Ecosystems - MDPI
Contextual Support Journal

Spatial Estimates of Soil Moisture for Understanding Ecological Potential and Risk: A Case Study for Arid and Semi-Arid Ecosystems - MDPI

View Source
Preview of Thermal tolerance and growth responses to in situ soil water reductions among alpine plants
Thermal tolerance and growth responses to in situ soil water reductions among alpine plants
Contextual Support Journal

Thermal tolerance and growth responses to in situ soil water reductions among alpine plants

View Source
Preview of Using soil moisture to make strategic decisions | Spring 2016 - Agriculture Victoria
Using soil moisture to make strategic decisions | Spring 2016 - Agriculture Victoria
Contextual Support Government

Soil moisture monitoring of pastures | Newsletters - Agriculture Victoria

View Source
Preview of Waterlogging in Australian agricultural landscapes: a review
Waterlogging in Australian agricultural landscapes: a review
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Waterlogging in Australian agricultural landscapes: a review

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Agricultural Biodiversity Target
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Based on Permanent Wilting Point (PWP) estimates for high organic matter loams.

Related Benchmarks

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

— % VWC Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Agricultural Biodiversity Target
OptimalRange Active v1
40 % VWC Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Agricultural Biodiversity Target
MaximumOnly Active v1
— % VWC Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Agricultural Biodiversity Target
OptimalRange Active v1
— % VWC Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Agricultural Biodiversity Target
OptimalRange Active v1