Soil Moisture

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 12 to 18 % VWC

Optimal Range: 12 to 18

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

Table 1 presents these derived benchmarks, translating the concept of Field Capacity into specific volumetric percentages for different soil types, thereby directly addressing the user query.

Metric Definition:

Volumetric water content at Field Capacity (FC), the point at which soil holds the maximum amount of water available to plants after drainage.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the optimal volumetric soil moisture range at Field Capacity for Loamy Sand soil texture under livestock grazing in tropical maritime islands.

Justification:

Derived from Rab et al. (2014) data on Australian dryland cropping soils, representing the maximum plant-available water.

Sources (1)

Preview of Modelling and prediction of soil water contents at field capacity and permanent wilting point of dryland cropping soils - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Modelling and prediction of soil water contents at field capacity and permanent wilting point of dryland cropping soils - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Modelling and prediction of soil water contents at field capacity and permanent wilting point of dryland cropping soils - ResearchGate

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Supporting Sources (4)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 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, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

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, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 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, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 17, 2025

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