Bare Ground — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

Benchmark Value

30 %

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 30

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: MaximumOnly

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 5 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 4 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Any cropping system exhibiting more than 30% bare ground on an ongoing basis is failing to meet this minimum standard of care.

Metric Definition:

Percentage of bare ground indicating the critical upper threshold beyond which soil erosion risk is unacceptable.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the critical upper threshold of bare ground percentage in cropping systems beyond which soil erosion risk becomes unacceptable in temperate grassy woodlands and plains.

Justification:

Scientific consensus supports 70% ground cover (i.e., 30% bare ground) as the minimum to prevent significant water erosion.

Sources (1)

Preview of The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 22, 2025,

The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 22, 2025, Journal

Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries

Supporting Sources (18)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of “COLLINGWOOD” CASE STUDY: THE NARRATIVE - Soils For Life, accessed August 5, 2025,

“COLLINGWOOD” CASE STUDY: THE NARRATIVE - Soils For Life, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

“COLLINGWOOD” CASE STUDY: THE NARRATIVE - Soils For Life, accessed August 5, 2025,

Preview of Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed May 11, 2025

Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Management Standards and Procedures for timber harvesting operations in Victoria’s State forests

Preview of Australian Government Data Catalogue - Dataplace, accessed August 5, 2025,

Australian Government Data Catalogue - Dataplace, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Australian Government Data Catalogue - Dataplace, accessed August 5, 2025,

Preview of Balancing Conservation and Production in Grassy Landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Balancing Conservation and Production in Grassy Landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

Balancing Conservation and Production in Grassy Landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Preview of CHICKPEA - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), accessed August 5, 2025,

CHICKPEA - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

CHICKPEA - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), accessed August 5, 2025,

Preview of CROP ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT, accessed August 5, 2025,

CROP ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

CROP ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT, accessed August 5, 2025,

Preview of Drivers of practice change in land management in Australian agriculture - DAFF, accessed August 5, 2025,

Drivers of practice change in land management in Australian agriculture - DAFF, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Drivers of practice change in land management in Australian agriculture - DAFF, accessed August 5, 2025,

Preview of finalrepport - MLA, accessed August 5, 2025,

finalrepport - MLA, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

finalrepport - MLA, accessed August 5, 2025,

Preview of Monitoring ground cover: an online tool for Australian regions - eo-data.csiro.au, accessed July 18, 2025,

Monitoring ground cover: an online tool for Australian regions - eo-data.csiro.au, accessed July 18, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Erosion and sediment yields in the Kakadu region of northern Australia - INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HYDROLOGICAL SCIENCES

Preview of Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland & Grassy Eucalypt Woodland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland & Grassy Eucalypt Woodland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Environmental Stewardship - Box Gum Grassy Woodland Project - Information Booklet - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Preview of Pasture cropping on Winona - A Soils For Life case study, accessed August 5, 2025,

Pasture cropping on Winona - A Soils For Life case study, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Pasture cropping on Winona - A Soils For Life case study, accessed August 5, 2025,

Preview of PLANNING AND PADDOCK PREPARATION - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), accessed August 5, 2025,

PLANNING AND PADDOCK PREPARATION - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

PLANNING AND PADDOCK PREPARATION - Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), accessed August 5, 2025,

Preview of Regenerative Agriculture - a literature review on the practices and mechanisms used to improve soil health - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 5, 2025,

Regenerative Agriculture - a literature review on the practices and mechanisms used to improve soil health - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

Regenerative Land Management - HEALTHY SOILS AUSTRALIA

Preview of Regenerative agriculture case study: The Collingwood Story - Soils For Life, accessed August 5, 2025,

Regenerative agriculture case study: The Collingwood Story - Soils For Life, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative agriculture case study: The Collingwood Story - Soils For Life, accessed August 5, 2025,

Preview of Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,

Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health - MDPI, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Resilient Food Systems for a Changing World - VTechWorks, accessed August 5, 2025,

Resilient Food Systems for a Changing World - VTechWorks, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Resilient Food Systems for a Changing World - VTechWorks, accessed August 5, 2025,

Preview of Soil Use Legacy as Driving Factor for Soil Erosion under Conservation Agriculture - Frontiers, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil Use Legacy as Driving Factor for Soil Erosion under Conservation Agriculture - Frontiers, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Use Legacy as Driving Factor for Soil Erosion under Conservation Agriculture - Frontiers, accessed August 5, 2025,

Preview of Stubble Retention in Cropping Systems in Southern Australia ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Stubble Retention in Cropping Systems in Southern Australia ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Stubble Retention in Cropping Systems in Southern Australia ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Conservation Target
Vegetation Woodland
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 2
Effective From 15 Mar 2026

Notes

Bare ground above 30% signifies a degraded state with high erosion risk.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-AGR-BAR family.