Bare Ground — Benchmark Detail

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 0 to 30 %

Optimal Range: 0 to 30

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 16 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 15 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

The optimal range for well-managed grazing systems is consistently identified as maintaining at least 70% total ground cover, which corresponds to a Bare Ground level of 30% or less.

Metric Definition:

Bare Ground (%) - the percentage of soil surface that is not covered by vegetation or litter.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the optimal range of bare ground percentage to maintain high ecological health and control erosion in temperate semi-arid woodlands under livestock grazing.

Justification:

This range is based on scientific literature indicating that maintaining bare ground below 30% effectively controls water erosion and supports healthy pastures.

Sources (1)

Managing grazing to increase ground cover in rangelands: using remote sensing to detect change - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 18, 2025, Journal

Managing grazing to increase ground cover in rangelands: using remote sensing to detect change - CSIRO Publishing

View Source

Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Restoration of degraded grazing country in the semi-arid areas of ..., accessed July 10, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Maintain and improve groundcover - Local Land Services

View Source

Preview of Synthesis of TERN AusPlots Rangelands survey data (2011-2019) and national best-practice guidelines for invasive species management in Australian arid rangelands.

Synthesis of TERN AusPlots Rangelands survey data (2011-2019) and national best-practice guidelines for invasive species management in Australian arid rangelands.

Direct Evidence

researchportal.murdoch.edu.au, accessed May 10, 2025

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

Management should aim to maintain bare ground below 30% (>70% total ground cover) to effectively control water erosion, maximize rainfall infiltration, and support healthy, resilient pastures. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSW-LVG-BAR family.