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
Lower Critical Threshold / Upper Limit for Bare Ground (Compromised Function): Sustained Bare Ground >30-40% indicates poor management and declining soil health.
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 indicates the minimum bare ground percentage above which soil health is compromised, signaling poor management and increased risk of erosion in agricultural crop production in temperate dry woodlands and native grasslands in Australia.
Sustained levels indicate poor management and declining soil health; basic soil protection needs likely not being met. Increased risk of erosion and reduced water infiltration.
Supporting Sources (26)
Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.
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Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 8, 2025,
View SourceManaging wind erosion in southern Western Australia | Agriculture ..., accessed May 11, 2025
View SourceGround Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed July 20, 2025
View SourceMonitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion - Agriculture Victoria, accessed May 11, 2025
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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 SourceReport Highlights Benefits of Minimizing Bare Soil in Regenerative Agriculture - Seed World, accessed May 11, 2025
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Snapshot of Australian Agriculture 2025 - DAFF, accessed August 4, 2025,
View SourceSaving our soil health through regenerative farming - The Farmer ..., accessed May 11, 2025
View SourceShort-term contributions of cover crop surface residue return to soil carbon and nitrogen contents in temperate Australia - ResearchGate
View SourceHow Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers
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