Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-TDG-LVG-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

5 mm/hr

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. The scoring engine uses 6 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 5 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Evidence from modelling studies in temperate Australian conditions (Southern Tablelands) suggests that hydrological function is significantly compromised when the soil's capacity to infiltrate water drops below levels of approximately 5 mm/hr.

Metric Definition:

Soil Water Infiltration Rate (SWIR) as a measure of water entry rate into soil.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the critical lower threshold of soil water infiltration rate below which hydrological function is impaired in temperate Australian grazing lands. Values below this indicate increased risk of runoff and erosion.

Justification:

Based on modelling studies indicating increased runoff and erosion risk below this infiltration rate.

Sources (1)

Soil structure, soil hydraulic properties and the soil water balance - ResearchGate Journal

Soil structure, soil hydraulic properties and the soil water balance - ResearchGate

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Supporting Sources (7)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

(PDF) Final report Scoping Study of Soil Management in Livestock ..., accessed May 12, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Final report Scoping Study of Soil Management in Livestock ...

View Source

(PDF) Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review - ResearchGate, accessed May 12, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review - ResearchGate

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Adaptive multi-paddock grazing improves water infiltration in Canadian grassland soils | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A ...

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Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Ludwig, J.A., Bastin, G.N., Chewings, V.H., Eager, R.W., and Liedloff, A.C. (2005). Clearing savannas for use as rangelands in Queensland: Altered landscapes and water-erosion processes. Rangeland Journal, 27(2), 135-149.

View Source

Removing Grazing Pressure from a Native Pasture Decreases Soil Organic Carbon in Southern New South Wales, Australia - ResearchGate

Contextual Support

Removing Grazing Pressure from a Native Pasture Decreases Soil Organic Carbon in Southern New South Wales, Australia - ResearchGate

View Source

Significance of terms used to predict the effect of rainfall and herbage mass on runoff, accessed May 12, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Significance of terms used to predict the effect of rainfall and herbage mass on runoff

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Preview of SNOWY MOUNTAIN FORESTED HILLSLOPE SOIL CHARACTERISATION, SOIL HYDROLOGICAL PROPERTIES AND SOIL GEOCHEMISTRY PROGRAM (Data derived from research linked to Save our Snow Gum (SOSG) project and Australian Mountain Research Facility (AMRF))

SNOWY MOUNTAIN FORESTED HILLSLOPE SOIL CHARACTERISATION, SOIL HYDROLOGICAL PROPERTIES AND SOIL GEOCHEMISTRY PROGRAM (Data derived from research linked to Save our Snow Gum (SOSG) project and Australian Mountain Research Facility (AMRF))

Direct Evidence Journal

Dynamics of Sudanian Savanna-Woodland Ecosystem in Response to Disturbances - - Administrative page for SLU library

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 9 Jun 2026

Notes

SWIR values consistently below 5-10 mm/hr indicate a critically degraded state with high runoff and erosion risk. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TDG-LVG-SWI family.