Soil Moisture

AUS-TDG-CON-SMO General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

9 % VWC
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 2 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Lower Critical Soil Moisture Threshold (approximating Permanent Wilting Point, PWP) for Sandy Loam: ~9% VWC

Metric Definition:

Permanent Wilting Point (PWP) volumetric water content threshold below which plants cannot extract water, causing physiological stress.

Benchmark Definition:

Soil moisture level at or below which plants experience wilting and severe stress in sandy loam soils.

Justification:

Based on general PWP values and ecological implications for native vegetation in conservation areas.

Sources (1)

Preview of Soil microbial biomass, activity and community composition in adjacent native and plantation forests of subtropical Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Soil microbial biomass, activity and community composition in adjacent native and plantation forests of subtropical Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate GreyLiterature

Soil water characteristics of a red chromosol and brown vertosol and ..., accessed May 19, 2025

View Source

Supporting Sources (18)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of A review of soil waterlogging impacts, mechanisms, and adaptive strategies - PMC, accessed May 19, 2025,
A review of soil waterlogging impacts, mechanisms, and adaptive strategies - PMC, accessed May 19, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

A review of soil waterlogging impacts, mechanisms, and adaptive strategies - PMC

View Source
Preview of CO₂ sink to source: Arid Australia's climate and rainfall driven tipping points
CO₂ sink to source: Arid Australia's climate and rainfall driven tipping points
Contextual Support Government

Learning More About Ephemeral Creeks | Flow-MER

View Source
Preview of Coarse woody debris reduces the rate of moisture loss from surface soils of cleared temperate Australian woodlands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 19, 2025,
Coarse woody debris reduces the rate of moisture loss from surface soils of cleared temperate Australian woodlands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 19, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Coarse woody debris reduces the rate of moisture loss from surface soils of cleared temperate Australian woodlands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 19, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Effects of moisture supply in the dry season and subsequent defoliation on persistence of the savanna grasses Themeda triandra, Heteropogon contortus and Panicum maximum - ResearchGate, accessed May 19, 2025,
Effects of moisture supply in the dry season and subsequent defoliation on persistence of the savanna grasses Themeda triandra, Heteropogon contortus and Panicum maximum - ResearchGate, accessed May 19, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Changes in soil physical properties and crop root growth in dense sodic subsoil following incorporation of organic amendments | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 19, 2025,

View Source
Preview of extension.okstate.edu, accessed May 19, 2025,
extension.okstate.edu, accessed May 19, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

extension.okstate.edu, accessed May 19, 2025,

View Source
Preview of GRASSLANDS - The Nature Conservancy, accessed May 19, 2025,
GRASSLANDS - The Nature Conservancy, accessed May 19, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. (2021). Australia State of the Environment 2021: Land.

View Source
Preview of Impacts and management strategies for crop production in waterlogged or flooded soils: A review - ResearchGate, accessed May 19, 2025,
Impacts and management strategies for crop production in waterlogged or flooded soils: A review - ResearchGate, accessed May 19, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Salinity Indicator Plants - NSW Government, accessed May 19, 2025,

View Source
Preview of NVIS Fact sheet MVG 19 6 Tussock grasslands, accessed July 16, 2025,
NVIS Fact sheet MVG 19 6 Tussock grasslands, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Understanding soil pH, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Perennial Pasture Guide - Barenbrug, accessed May 19, 2025,
Perennial Pasture Guide - Barenbrug, accessed May 19, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Perennial Pasture Guide - Barenbrug, accessed May 19, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Protecting native grasses – ANU Sustainable Farms, accessed August 6, 2025,
Protecting native grasses – ANU Sustainable Farms, accessed August 6, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

ECONOMICS AND SYSTEM APPLICATIONS FOR PERENNIAL GRAIN CROPS IN DRYLAND FARMING SYSTEMS IN AUSTRALIA - The Land Institute

View Source
Preview of Protecting native grasses – ANU Sustainable Farms, accessed May 19, 2025,
Protecting native grasses – ANU Sustainable Farms, accessed May 19, 2025,
Irrelevant

Protecting native grasses – ANU Sustainable Farms, accessed May 19, 2025,

View Source
Preview of research report - University of Technology Sydney, accessed May 19, 2025,
research report - University of Technology Sydney, accessed May 19, 2025,
Contextual Support

Data Information - OzFlux Data Portal, accessed May 19, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Setting irrigation thresholds using different types of data | Turfgrass Science - Buckeye Turf, accessed May 19, 2025,
Setting irrigation thresholds using different types of data | Turfgrass Science - Buckeye Turf, accessed May 19, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Setting irrigation thresholds using different types of data | Turfgrass Science - Buckeye Turf, accessed May 19, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Time of seed harvest and sowing determines successful establishment of kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra) on Dja Dja Wurrung - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 19, 2025,
Time of seed harvest and sowing determines successful establishment of kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra) on Dja Dja Wurrung - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 19, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Time of seed harvest and sowing determines successful establishment of kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra) on Dja Dja Wurrung - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 19, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Understorey productivity in temperate grassy woodland responds to soil water availability but not to elevated [CO2 ] - PubMed, accessed August 9, 2025
Understorey productivity in temperate grassy woodland responds to soil water availability but not to elevated [CO2 ] - PubMed, accessed August 9, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

SNOWY MOUNTAIN FORESTED HILLSLOPE SOIL CHARACTERISATION, SOIL HYDROLOGICAL PROPERTIES AND SOIL GEOCHEMISTRY PROGRAM

View Source
Preview of Water potential the complete researcher guide - METER Group, accessed May 19, 2025,
Water potential the complete researcher guide - METER Group, accessed May 19, 2025,
Contextual Support

Water potential the complete researcher guide - METER Group, accessed May 19, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Whroo Flux Data Collection - TERN Data Discovery Portal, accessed May 19, 2025,
Whroo Flux Data Collection - TERN Data Discovery Portal, accessed May 19, 2025,
Contextual Support

Plant available water capacity of dryland cropping soils in the south-eastern Australia, accessed May 19, 2025

View Source
Preview of Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,
Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Vegetation Woodland
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 9 Jun 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Represents the critical lower threshold for soil moisture below which ecological function is severely impaired.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TDG-CON-SMO family.

12.5 % VWC Low
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference · Woodland
Point Active v1
— % VWC Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target · Woodland
OptimalRange Active v1