Bare Ground — Benchmark Detail

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 10 to 30 %

Optimal Range: 10 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 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 reference value for Bare Ground (%) in a best-on-offer system is a range of 10-30%.

Metric Definition:

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

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the optimal range of bare ground percentage in arid agricultural cropping systems, reflecting a balance between practical cropping realities and maintaining high ecological function and stability.

Justification:

This benchmark is derived from the principles of Conservation Agriculture and the widely accepted minimum threshold of 30% ground cover for conservation tillage, reflecting a state of high ecological function and stability in arid cropping systems.

Sources (1)

Management of Dryland Soils for Sustainable Agriculture

Management of Dryland Soils for Sustainable Agriculture

View Source

Supporting Sources (8)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Conservation Agriculture as a Sustainable System for Soil Health: A Review - MDPI, accessed August 4, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Evolution of conservation agriculture in summer rainfall areas, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source

Opportunities and Challenges for Cover Cropping in Sustainable ..., accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Opportunities and Challenges for Cover Cropping in Sustainable ..., accessed July 27, 2025

View Source

Preview of Opportunities and Challenges for Cover Cropping in Sustainable Agriculture Systems in Southern Australia - MDPI, accessed July 18, 2025,

Opportunities and Challenges for Cover Cropping in Sustainable Agriculture Systems in Southern Australia - MDPI, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Developments in stubble retention in cropping systems in southern Australia, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source

PLANNING AND PADDOCK PREPARATION - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

PLANNING AND PADDOCK PREPARATION - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), accessed July 27, 2025

View Source

Soil Constraints in an Arid Environment - Encyclopedia.pub

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Constraints in an Arid Environment - Encyclopedia.pub, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source

Soil Constraints in an Arid Environment—Challenges, Prospects, and Implications - MDPI, accessed July 6, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Constraints in an Arid Environment—Challenges, Prospects, and Implications - MDPI

View Source

Soil Erosion in Australia: Definition, Causes and Prevention, accessed July 13, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Erosion in Australia: Definition, Causes and Prevention, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source

The role of conservation agriculture in sustainable agriculture ..., accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The role of conservation agriculture in sustainable agriculture - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

This benchmark represents the inverse of the primary management goal in arid cropping systems, which is to maximize ground cover. Lower values within this range are better, approaching the ideal of 0% bare ground. Derived from Conservation Agriculture principles. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.