Soil Moisture
Benchmark Value
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 2 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.
Contributing Benchmarks
Evidence & Context
The Lower Critical Threshold is defined as the point of ~50% depletion of Plant Available Water (PAW), below which pasture resilience and productivity decline sharply.
Percentage depletion of Plant Available Water (PAW) at which ecosystem health is significantly compromised.
This benchmark represents the critical lower threshold of soil moisture depletion, below which pasture resilience and productivity decline sharply in tropical maritime islands under livestock grazing.
Based on studies of tropical rainforests and applied analogously to tropical pastures, indicating significant ecosystem stress at this depletion level.
Sources (1)
Threshold Responses to Soil Moisture Deficit by Trees and Soil in Tropical Rain Forests: Insights from Field Experiments - PubMed Central
View SourceSupporting Sources (4)
Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.
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 SourceEffect of single and repeated waterlogging events on tropical forage grasses for cut and carry systems - SLU
View SourceManaging Gully Erosion - NQ Dry Tropics
View SourceModelling and prediction of soil water contents at field capacity and permanent wilting point of dryland cropping soils - ResearchGate
View Source