Soil Moisture

AUS-TMI-LVG-SMO General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 32 to 40 % VWC
Optimal Range: 32 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

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 Clay Loam 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

View Source
Preview of Emission of CO2 from tropical riparian forest soil is controlled by soil temperature
Emission of CO2 from tropical riparian forest soil is controlled by soil temperature
Direct Evidence Journal

Effect of single and repeated waterlogging events on tropical forage grasses for cut and carry systems - SLU

View Source
Preview of Land management for graziers | Business Queensland, accessed August 8, 2025
Land management for graziers | Business Queensland, accessed August 8, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Managing Gully Erosion - NQ Dry Tropics

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Preview of Threshold Responses to Soil Moisture Deficit by Trees and Soil in Tropical Rain Forests: Insights from Field Experiments - PubMed Central
Threshold Responses to Soil Moisture Deficit by Trees and Soil in Tropical Rain Forests: Insights from Field Experiments - PubMed Central
Direct Evidence Journal

Threshold Responses to Soil Moisture Deficit by Trees and Soil in Tropical Rain Forests: Insights from Field Experiments - PubMed Central

View Source