Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-ASC-AGR-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 4 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 3 guard(s) constrain the result.

Evidence & Context

A steady-state infiltration rate below 5 mm/hr for Alpine Humus Soils under agricultural use would indicate significant degradation and impaired hydrological function.

Metric Definition:

Steady-state soil water infiltration rate, the rate at which water infiltrates soil after initial wetting, measured in mm/hr.

Benchmark Definition:

Lower critical threshold for steady-state soil water infiltration rate indicating significant soil degradation in Alpine and Subalpine Complex agricultural soils.

Justification:

Indicates significant soil degradation (compaction, poor structure), increased runoff/erosion risk. Well below expected capacity of healthy Alpine Humus Soils and significantly lower than ARR Group C/D soils.

Sources (1)

Preview of Australian Heritage Database - DCCEEW, accessed on May 25, 2025,
Australian Heritage Database - DCCEEW, accessed on May 25, 2025, Journal

Australian Heritage Database - DCCEEW

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Supporting Sources (4)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Alfalfa planting significantly improved alpine soil water infiltrability in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau
Alfalfa planting significantly improved alpine soil water infiltrability in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau
Direct Evidence

Alfalfa planting significantly improved alpine soil water infiltrability in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

View Source
Preview of Impacts of Road Disturbance on Soil Properties and on Exotic Plant Occurrence in Subalpine Areas of the Australian Alps - ResearchGate, accessed on May 31, 2025
Impacts of Road Disturbance on Soil Properties and on Exotic Plant Occurrence in Subalpine Areas of the Australian Alps - ResearchGate, accessed on May 31, 2025
Direct Evidence Journal

Impacts of Road Disturbance on Soil Properties and on Exotic Plant Occurrence in Subalpine Areas of the Australian Alps - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Infiltration rates and soil moisture in a groved mulga community near Alice Springs, arid central Australia: Evidence for complex internal rainwater redistribution in a runoff-runon landscape | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Infiltration rates and soil moisture in a groved mulga community near Alice Springs, arid central Australia: Evidence for complex internal rainwater redistribution in a runoff-runon landscape | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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

View Source
Preview of theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,
theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Phosphorus Nutrition of Proteaceae in Severely Phosphorus-Impoverished Soils: Are There Lessons To Be Learned for Future Crops? - PubMed Central

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Agricultural Biodiversity Target
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 10 Jun 2026

Notes

Represents a threshold below which soil hydrological functions are significantly impaired, leading to increased runoff, erosion risk, and reduced crop productivity. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation.