Ground Cover - Grasses

AUS-TDG-LVG-GCG General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 40 to 65 %

Optimal Range: 40 to 65

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.

Evidence & Context

Pasture ground cover of 40–65% is recommended on the gently sloping to flat lands of southern NSW to minimise water erosion.

Metric Definition:

Vertical visual projection of pasture plants (alive or dead), including canopy (>5 cm height) and contact cover (<5 cm height, litter, and basal areas).

Benchmark Definition:

Recommended operational ground cover range to minimize water erosion on gently sloping to flat lands.

Justification:

Specifically models water erosion and run-off thresholds for flat and gently sloping soils in the cropping-pasture rotation zones of southern New South Wales.

Sources (1)

Managing ground cover in the cropping zone of southern NSW, accessed May 11, 2025 Journal

Managing ground cover in the cropping zone of southern NSW

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Supporting Sources (6)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Adaptive Management Guidelines for Box Gum Grassy Woodlands

Direct Evidence Journal

Box-Gum Grassy Woodland Adaptive Management

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Approved Conservation Advice for the White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland

Direct Evidence Journal

Approved Conservation Advice for the White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland

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Preview of Composition and production from native pastures in response to fertiliser and rotational grazing | EverGraze More livestock from perennials

Composition and production from native pastures in response to fertiliser and rotational grazing | EverGraze More livestock from perennials

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Native pastures are resilient

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Composition of pastures with a high native perennial component is stable under managed grazing

Irrelevant

Composition of pastures with a high native perennial component is stable under managed grazing

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Land Management Control Policy

Direct Evidence Journal

Land Management Control Policy

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Lowland Grassy Woodland on your property

Direct Evidence Journal

Lowland Grassy Woodland on your property

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Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Agricultural Biodiversity Target
Vegetation Grassland
Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 10 Jul 2026

Notes

Represents an operational balance between livestock production, crop-residue maintenance, and soil conservation during dry autumn transitions.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TDG-LVG-GCG family.