Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-ASC-AGR-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 15 to 35 mm/hr
Optimal Range: 15 to 35
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

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

Encompasses excellent soil health, reflecting the potential of well-managed Alpine Humus Soils.

Metric Definition:

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

Benchmark Definition:

Optimal functional range for steady-state soil water infiltration rate under best-practice regenerative management in Alpine and Subalpine Complex agricultural soils.

Justification:

Spans high-end ARR Group B to beyond Group A final rates, allowing for variability in texture and organic matter.

Sources (1)

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

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

View Source

Supporting Sources (4)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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

Australian Heritage Database - DCCEEW

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 HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Reflects the potential of well-managed Alpine Humus Soils to achieve high and sustained infiltration capacities. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation.