Bare Ground
Benchmark Value
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
Evidence & Context
The Reference Value for "best available condition" is proposed as ≤10-20% Bare Ground during the most vulnerable periods (e.g., post-harvest, pre-establishment of next crop/cover crop), with an aim for ≤10% (ideally approaching 0-5%) Bare Ground during active growth phases of cash or cover crops.
Bare Ground (%) is an ecological indicator representing the proportion of the soil surface that is exposed, lacking cover from living vegetation, plant residues (litter), or other protective materials such as stones or dung.
This benchmark represents the proportion of bare soil surface in agricultural crop production within temperate dry woodlands and native grasslands in Australia, indicating soil exposure levels that protect against erosion and support soil health during vulnerable and active crop growth periods.
This range reflects a state where the soil is maximally protected from erosion, organic matter inputs are optimized, water infiltration is enhanced, soil temperature is moderated, and the system demonstrates a strong adherence to the principles of regenerative agriculture.
Sources (5)
Managing wind erosion in southern Western Australia | Agriculture ..., accessed May 11, 2025
View SourceMonitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion - Agriculture Victoria, accessed May 11, 2025
View SourceReport Highlights Benefits of Minimizing Bare Soil in Regenerative Agriculture - Seed World, accessed May 11, 2025
View SourceSaving our soil health through regenerative farming - The Farmer ..., accessed May 11, 2025
View SourceHow Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers
View SourceSupporting Sources (21)
Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.
Fertilisers and the environment - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed May 11, 2025
View SourceAn assessment of the accuracy of satellite-derived woody and grass foliage cover estimates for Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 14, 2025,
View Source
Management Standards and Procedures for timber harvesting operations in Victoria’s State forests
View Source
Call 03 5021 9100, accessed May 11, 2025
View SourceChange tillage practices - Conservation Evidence, accessed May 11, 2025
View SourceCover crops suppress fallow weeds and support profitable grain crops - WeedSmart, accessed May 11, 2025
View SourceDeveloping robust ground cover - Mallee Sustainable Farming, accessed May 11, 2025
View SourceEvaluation of the water use efficiency of alternative farm practices at a range of spatial and temporal scales: A conceptual framework and a modelling approach | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025
View Source
Featuring - Mallee Catchment Management Authority, accessed May 11, 2025
View SourceFINAL SUMMARY 2024 - Mallee Sustainable Farming, accessed May 11, 2025
View SourceGrazing-management-for-soil-carbon-in-Australia-A-review.pdf - University of Tasmania, accessed April 29, 2025,
View SourceGrazing support programs | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed July 17, 2025,
View SourceLandcare Agriculture, accessed May 11, 2025
View SourceTERN Landscapes - Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, accessed May 15, 2025
View Source
Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 8, 2025,
View SourceGround Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed July 20, 2025
View Source
Regenerative agriculture reviewed | Agriculture and Food, accessed May 11, 2025
View SourceRegenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 28, 2025,
View SourceSoil and fertilizer phosphorus: Effects on plant P supply and mycorrhizal development - Canadian Science Publishing, accessed August 28, 2025
View Source
Snapshot of Australian Agriculture 2025 - DAFF, accessed August 4, 2025,
View SourceShort-term contributions of cover crop surface residue return to soil carbon and nitrogen contents in temperate Australia - ResearchGate
View Source