Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-TGP-LVG-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

10 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

Lower Critical Threshold: < 10 mm/hr, with severe dysfunction at ~5 mm/hr.

Metric Definition:

Soil Water Infiltration Rate (SWIR) critical lower threshold below which soil function is impaired.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the minimum soil water infiltration rate below which soil hydrological function is critically impaired, indicating severe soil degradation.

Justification:

Supported by quantitative data from NSW Local Land Services and qualitative descriptions of severely degraded soils with increased runoff and erosion.

Sources (1)

Healthy soils and water infiltration in the paddock - Local Land Services - NSW Government Government

Healthy soils and water infiltration in the paddock

View Source

Supporting Sources (6)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Effects of soil degradation on infiltration rates in grazed semiarid rangelands of northeastern Patagonia, Argentina - project bedrock

Effects of soil degradation on infiltration rates in grazed semiarid rangelands of northeastern Patagonia, Argentina - project bedrock

Contextual Support Journal

Landscape rehydration and regenerative agriculture improves soil health, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source

How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The Science behind Regenerative Agriculture

View Source

Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Rangeland Soil Quality: Infiltration - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source

Preview of Soil and Crop Management Practices to Minimize the Impact of Waterlogging on Crop Productivity - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed August 4, 2025,

Soil and Crop Management Practices to Minimize the Impact of Waterlogging on Crop Productivity - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Soil Infiltration | Agronomic Crops Network - The Ohio State University

View Source

Soil health for vegetable production in Australia - Department of Primary Industries, Queensland, accessed July 18, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Understanding soil tests for pastures | Soil | Farm management ..., accessed July 18, 2025,

View Source

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

Contextual Support

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

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 10 Jun 2026

Notes

Severe dysfunction occurs at approximately 5 mm/hr. Falling below 10 mm/hr signals urgent management intervention to prevent chronic degradation. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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