Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-TMS-CON-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

2 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.

Evidence & Context

For clay soils, especially Vertosols, ... consistently very low matrix infiltration rates (e.g., <2-5 mm/hr when the soil is wet and swollen) would also be problematic.

Metric Definition:

Soil Water Infiltration Rate (SWIR)

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark sets a lower critical threshold for soil water infiltration rate in clay soils when wet and swollen, below which ecological function is severely impaired in the Tropical Monsoonal Savannas.

Justification:

Matrix infiltration rates below this level indicate severe dysfunction in clayey soils.

Sources (3)

Preview of Maximizing retention of native biodiversity in Australian agricultural ...
Maximizing retention of native biodiversity in Australian agricultural ... Journal

Does grazing exclusion in Australia's rangelands affect biomass and debris carbon stocks? - CSIRO Publishing, accessed April 29, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture - MLA
Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture - MLA Journal

Influence of vegetation type on infiltration rate and capacity at Ie jue geothermal manifestation, Mount Seulawah Agam, Indonesia

View Source
Preview of The effect of soil and pasture attributes on rangeland infiltration rates in northern Australia
The effect of soil and pasture attributes on rangeland infiltration rates in northern Australia Journal

The effect of soil and pasture attributes on rangeland infiltration rates in northern Australia

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Refers specifically to matrix infiltration when soil is wet and swollen.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMS-CON-SWI family.

250 mm/hr Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
MinimumOnly Active v1
— mm/hr Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
OptimalRange Active v1
— mm/hr Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
OptimalRange Active v1
5 mm/hr Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
MinimumOnly Active v1