Bare Ground — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

Benchmark Value

5 %

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: Point

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 13 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 12 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

A single reference value of 5% is selected from within the optimal range (0–10%). This value is chosen for several reasons. It represents a state of high ecological function, sitting comfortably at the midpoint of the optimal range. It is ambitious, representing a significant improvement over the conventional Australian cropping average of ~14% bare ground. Finally, it is practical. While the ideal is 0%, a value of 5% acknowledges that even in the best-managed systems, small, transient areas of bare soil may occur during specific, short-term operations like planting or seeding.

Metric Definition:

Bare Ground (%) - the percentage of soil surface that is not covered by vegetation or residue in agricultural crop production systems.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the percentage of bare soil surface in agricultural crop production in Australia's Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands biome, where 5% bare ground is considered a practical and ecologically healthy target reflecting best available conditions to reduce erosion and sustain production.

Justification:

The benchmark is derived from foundational principles of regenerative agriculture aiming for near 0% bare ground, combined with quantified erosion risk thresholds indicating >10% bare ground is detrimental in this biome.

Sources (1)

Preview of Fact sheet 4: Groundcover, accessed July 12, 2025,

Fact sheet 4: Groundcover, accessed July 12, 2025, Journal

Fire in Semi-Arid Shrublands and Woodlands: Spatial and Temporal Patterns in an Australian Landscape - Frontiers, accessed July 12, 2025,

Supporting Sources (20)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of A review of the economics of regenerative agriculture in Western Australia - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 4, 2025

A review of the economics of regenerative agriculture in Western Australia - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

A review of the economics of regenerative agriculture in Western Australia - DPIRD's Digital library

Preview of Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management in Victoria, accessed July 19, 2025

Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management in Victoria, accessed July 19, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Soil health: the foundation of sustainable agriculture - 2001 ...

Preview of Fact sheet 4: Groundcover

Fact sheet 4: Groundcover

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Annual Report 2021–22 | Mallee CMA, accessed July 23, 2025

Preview of Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed July 27, 2025,

Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Land management for sugarcane farms | Business Queensland, accessed July 16, 2025,

Land management for sugarcane farms | Business Queensland, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Soil Specific Management Guidelines for Sugarcane Production - Sugar Research Australia

Preview of Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 22, 2025,

Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Lang, D. (1979). Groundcover for pastures. Journal of Soil Conservation NSW.

Preview of Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ..., accessed July 27, 2025,

Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ..., accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Farmers helping protect the Great Barrier Reef - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ..., accessed May 11, 2025

Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ..., accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion - Agriculture Victoria

Preview of National Ecosystem Accounts, experimental estimates, 2020-21 financial year, accessed July 27, 2025,

National Ecosystem Accounts, experimental estimates, 2020-21 financial year, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

National Ecosystem Accounts, experimental estimates, 2020-21 financial year, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Norfolk Island - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

Norfolk Island - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Draft Christmas Island Biodiversity Conservation Plan - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Pasture management for South East Queensland - FutureBeef, accessed July 19, 2025

Pasture management for South East Queensland - FutureBeef, accessed July 19, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Understanding Soils and Nutrients - Australian Native Plants Society (Australia)

Preview of Practical tactics to improve ground cover and ensure soil preservation following successive low rainfall seasons, accessed July 27, 2025,

Practical tactics to improve ground cover and ensure soil preservation following successive low rainfall seasons, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support

Practical tactics to improve ground cover and ensure soil preservation following successive low rainfall seasons, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Regenerative Agriculture | RF - The Rockefeller Foundation, accessed July 27, 2025,

Regenerative Agriculture | RF - The Rockefeller Foundation, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative Agriculture | RF - The Rockefeller Foundation, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture is key to dry season preparation - Soils For Life, accessed July 23, 2025

Preview of Soil Health and Nutrient Management - Smartcane BMP, accessed July 16, 2025,

Soil Health and Nutrient Management - Smartcane BMP, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Requirements for sugarcane growers | Environment, land and water, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Soil management for sugarcane - NSW Department of Primary ...

Soil management for sugarcane - NSW Department of Primary ...

Contextual Support Journal

The effect of litter layer on controlling surface runoff and erosion in ..., accessed July 26, 2025

Preview of Soil management for sugarcane - NSW Department of Primary ..., accessed July 27, 2025,

Soil management for sugarcane - NSW Department of Primary ..., accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil management for sugarcane - NSW Department of Primary ..., accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Soil management for sustainable agriculture : background papers from a workshop organized by the Research Review Committee of th, accessed July 7, 2025

Soil management for sustainable agriculture : background papers from a workshop organized by the Research Review Committee of th, accessed July 7, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Soil management guides - NSW Department of Primary Industries

Preview of The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 22, 2025,

The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 22, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

View of Efficacy of the Ecosystem Services Approach in Transitioning to Regenerative Agriculture in Australia | Reinvention, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of What We Do - Mulloon Institute, accessed July 27, 2025,

What We Do - Mulloon Institute, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

What We Do - Mulloon Institute, accessed July 27, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

The optimal range for bare ground is 0-10%, with >10% indicating unacceptable erosion risk and >30% indicating a highly degraded state. No lower critical threshold exists; lower bare ground is always better. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMI-AGR-BAR family.