Bare Ground

AUS-TMI-AGR-BAR General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 0 to 10 %
Optimal Range: 0 to 10
Direction: Lower 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. 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

The optimal range for bare ground in an ecologically healthy, best-practice agricultural system in this biome is 0–10% bare ground.

Metric Definition:

Range of bare ground percentage representing high ecological function and minimized erosion risk.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the optimal range of bare ground percentage in agricultural crop production in Australia's Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands biome, where 0 to 10% bare ground supports maximum ecological function and minimizes erosion risk.

Justification:

Derived from the ecological ideal of 0% bare ground and the quantified upper erosion risk threshold of 10%.

Sources (1)

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, Journal

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

View Source

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

View Source
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 ...

View Source
Preview of Fact sheet 4: Groundcover
Fact sheet 4: Groundcover
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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

View Source
Preview of Fact sheet 4: Groundcover, accessed July 12, 2025,
Fact sheet 4: Groundcover, accessed July 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

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

View Source
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,

View Source
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

View Source
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.

View Source
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,

View Source
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

View Source
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,

View Source
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,

View Source
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)

View Source
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,

View Source
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,

View Source
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

View Source
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,

View Source
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

View Source
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,

View Source
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

View Source
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,

View Source

Context

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

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Operating within this range ensures soil protection, effective water cycling, and support for soil biology. It is consistent with best-practice regenerative agriculture principles. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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

5 % Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Not Stated
Point Active v1