Litter Cover — Benchmark Detail

Benchmark Value

50 %

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: MinimumOnly

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

A litter cover of 50% is the absolute minimum threshold. Below this level, the risk of significant soil loss from wind erosion, the dominant erosive force in this biome, increases dramatically.

Metric Definition:

Litter Cover (%) minimum threshold to prevent significant soil loss from wind erosion in arid cropping systems.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the minimum litter cover percentage required in arid shrublands agricultural cropping systems to prevent significant soil loss from wind erosion.

Justification:

This threshold is strongly supported by multiple state government advisory bodies and national monitoring programs as the critical lower boundary for maintaining system integrity in arid cropping landscapes.

Sources (4)

Preview of Australia's State of the Forests Report, accessed July 12, 2025,

Australia's State of the Forests Report, accessed July 12, 2025, Journal

IN PRAISE OF GROUNDCOVER - Australian Rangeland Society -

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, Journal

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

View Source

Manage ground cover | EverGraze More livestock from perennials, accessed August 10, 2025,

Maintain and improve groundcover - Local Land Services

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Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ... Government

Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ...

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Supporting Sources (10)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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

Assessing groundcover | MBFP | More Beef from Pastures - MLA, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

Revegetation - International Erosion Control Association

View Source

Mixed Cover Crops for Sustainable Farming - CSIRO Research

Contextual Support Government

Mixed Cover Crops for Sustainable Farming - CSIRO Research

View Source

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 Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,

Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source

Preview of Seed row placement relative to the previous crop stubble row can harness systems benefits on water repellent sands - CSIRO Publishing

Seed row placement relative to the previous crop stubble row can harness systems benefits on water repellent sands - CSIRO Publishing

Contextual Support Journal

Seed row placement relative to the previous crop stubble row can harness systems benefits on water repellent sands - CSIRO Publishing

View Source

Strategic summer stubble management protects future profitability

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Strategic summer stubble management protects future profitability

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Stubble Retention in Cropping Systems - Gulbali Institute - Charles Sturt University

Contextual Support Journal

Stubble Retention in Cropping Systems - Gulbali Institute - Charles Sturt University

View Source

The effect of plant litter on ecosystem properties in a Mediterranean semi‐arid shrubland

Contextual Support Government

The effect of plant litter on ecosystem properties in a Mediterranean semi‐arid shrubland

View Source

WESTERN REGION - GRDC, accessed July 8, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Managing stubble | General agronomy | Crop production | Grains ...

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Shrublands & Stony Plains
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 8 Jun 2026

Notes

Below 50% litter cover, the risk of soil loss from wind erosion increases sharply, marking the boundary between sustainable management and active degradation. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-ASP-AGR-LIT family.