Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-TDG-FOR-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

15 mm/hr
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: MinimumOnly

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Evidence & Context

Considering these points, a SWIR consistently below 15-25 mm/hr is proposed as a lower critical threshold for maintaining essential ecological functions and long-term productivity in Australian Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands under production forestry.

Metric Definition:

Soil Water Infiltration Rate (SWIR) is the rate at which water enters the soil profile, typically expressed in millimeters per hour (mm/hr).

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark sets a minimum soil water infiltration rate of 15 mm/hr below which soil function and productivity are critically impaired in Australian Temperate Dry Woodlands under production forestry.

Justification:

This threshold represents a point where the system shifts from effectively absorbing and utilizing water to predominantly shedding it, with attendant degradation, based on ecological function impairment and long-term productivity loss.

Sources (2)

Preview of Do shrubs reduce the adverse effects of grazing on soil properties? - ResearchGate
Do shrubs reduce the adverse effects of grazing on soil properties? - ResearchGate

General Soil Water Infiltration Rate Classification

View Source
Preview of www.waikatoregion.govt.nz, accessed May 15, 2025,
www.waikatoregion.govt.nz, accessed May 15, 2025, Journal

www.waikatoregion.govt.nz, accessed May 15, 2025,

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Improved forest management - CSIRO, accessed July 12, 2025,
Improved forest management - CSIRO, accessed July 12, 2025,
Direct Evidence Government

Ecosystem wicks: Woodland trees enhance water infiltration in a fragmented agricultural landscape in eastern Australia, accessed May 15, 2025,

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

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

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. SWIR values below this threshold likely lead to increased runoff, soil erosion, reduced water availability, poor soil aeration, and compromised soil ecological functions. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TDG-FOR-SWI family.