Bare Ground — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

Benchmark Value

40 %

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

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

For banana cultivation, these regulations mandate that inter-rows must have a minimum of 60% ground cover at all times, except during brief renovation works. This establishes a legal maximum of 40% bare ground for this specific crop within the target biome.

Metric Definition:

Percentage of soil surface that is bare ground, i.e., not covered by living vegetation or organic litter.

Benchmark Definition:

Legal maximum bare ground allowed under Queensland Government's Reef protection regulations for banana cultivation in tropical and subtropical rainforest agricultural crop production.

Justification:

Regulatory mandate to protect water quality in the Great Barrier Reef catchment.

Supporting Sources (32)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 4. Tillage in Horticulture - Agronomy Australia Proceedings, accessed July 18, 2025,

4. Tillage in Horticulture - Agronomy Australia Proceedings, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

4. Tillage in Horticulture - Agronomy Australia Proceedings, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Accumulation of soil carbon under zero tillage cropping and perennial vegetation on the Liverpool Plains, eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025,

Accumulation of soil carbon under zero tillage cropping and perennial vegetation on the Liverpool Plains, eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Accumulation of soil carbon under zero tillage cropping and perennial vegetation on the Liverpool Plains, eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Agricultural ERA standard for banana cultivation - version 2, accessed July 18, 2025,

Agricultural ERA standard for banana cultivation - version 2, accessed July 18, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Journal

Agricultural ERA standard for banana cultivation - version 2, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Benefits and Challenges of Cover Crop Use - Purdue Agriculture, accessed July 18, 2025,

Benefits and Challenges of Cover Crop Use - Purdue Agriculture, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support

Benefits and Challenges of Cover Crop Use - Purdue Agriculture, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Can legumes provide greater benefits than ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 18, 2025,

Can legumes provide greater benefits than ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support

Can legumes provide greater benefits than ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Cavendish Bananas - Banana Growing Guide - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 18, 2025,

Cavendish Bananas - Banana Growing Guide - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Cavendish Bananas - Banana Growing Guide - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Ch 10. Cover Crops - SARE, accessed July 18, 2025,

Ch 10. Cover Crops - SARE, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Ch 10. Cover Crops - SARE, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

Ludwig, J.A., Bastin, G.N., Chewings, V.H., Eager, R.W., and Liedloff, A.C. (2005). Clearing savannas for use as rangelands in Queensland: Altered landscapes and water-erosion processes. Rangeland Journal, 27(2), 135-149.

Preview of Ground Covers and Weed Management for Regenerative Farming and Ranching, accessed July 18, 2025,

Ground Covers and Weed Management for Regenerative Farming and Ranching, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Ground Covers and Weed Management for Regenerative Farming and Ranching, accessed July 7, 2025

Preview of High-Residue Cover Crops | AgroClimate, accessed July 18, 2025,

High-Residue Cover Crops | AgroClimate, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

High-Residue Cover Crops | AgroClimate, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Impact of Cover Crops on Insect Community Dynamics in Organic Farming - MDPI, accessed July 18, 2025,

Impact of Cover Crops on Insect Community Dynamics in Organic Farming - MDPI, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support

Impact of Cover Crops on Insect Community Dynamics in Organic Farming - MDPI, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Impact of Cover Crops on Natural Enemies and Pests - SARE, accessed July 18, 2025,

Impact of Cover Crops on Natural Enemies and Pests - SARE, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support

Impact of Cover Crops on Natural Enemies and Pests - SARE, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Impacts of crop residues on soil health: a review - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed July 18, 2025,

Impacts of crop residues on soil health: a review - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support

Impacts of crop residues on soil health: a review - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Landscape rehydration and regenerative agriculture improves soil health, accessed July 30, 2025,

Landscape rehydration and regenerative agriculture improves soil health, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Health and Regenerative Agriculture - Southern Queensland Landscapes, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 22, 2025,

Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 22, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Lang, D. (1979). Groundcover for pastures. Journal of Soil Conservation NSW.

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,

Contextual Support Journal

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

Preview of Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ..., accessed May 11, 2025

Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ..., accessed May 11, 2025

Direct Evidence Government

Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion - Agriculture Victoria, accessed May 11, 2025

Preview of Monitoring groundcover: an online tool for Australian regions - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 18, 2025,

Monitoring groundcover: an online tool for Australian regions - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support

Monitoring groundcover: an online tool for Australian regions - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 27, 2025

Preview of Opportunities and Challenges for Cover Cropping in Sustainable Agriculture Systems in Southern Australia - MDPI, accessed July 18, 2025,

Opportunities and Challenges for Cover Cropping in Sustainable Agriculture Systems in Southern Australia - MDPI, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Developments in stubble retention in cropping systems in southern Australia, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Predicting nitrogen cycling and losses in Australian cropping systems - GRDC, accessed July 18, 2025,

Predicting nitrogen cycling and losses in Australian cropping systems - GRDC, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support

Predicting nitrogen cycling and losses in Australian cropping systems - GRDC, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Rainforests – Australia's green cathedrals - CSIROpedia, accessed July 18, 2025,

Rainforests – Australia's green cathedrals - CSIROpedia, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Rainforests – Australia's green cathedrals - CSIROpedia, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Reducing erosion and other soil degradation in macadamia orchards, accessed July 18, 2025,

Reducing erosion and other soil degradation in macadamia orchards, accessed July 18, 2025,

Irrelevant

Reducing erosion and other soil degradation in macadamia orchards, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Reef protection regulations Banana Erosion and sediment control guide Version 2 - Queensland Government, accessed July 18, 2025,

Reef protection regulations Banana Erosion and sediment control guide Version 2 - Queensland Government, accessed July 18, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Journal

Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Requirements for graziers | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed July 30, 2025,

Requirements for graziers | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed July 30, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Government

Soil Health & Your Wealth - presented by Graeme Sait - Regional Development Australia, accessed July 30, 2025,

Preview of Soil Carbon Snapshot - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 5, 2025,

Soil Carbon Snapshot - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Baseline map of organic carbon in Australian soil to support national carbon accounting and monitoring under climate change - PubMed Central, accessed July 28, 2025,

Preview of Soil health for vegetable production in Australia - Department of Primary Industries, Queensland, accessed July 18, 2025,

Soil health for vegetable production in Australia - Department of Primary Industries, Queensland, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Healthy soils and water infiltration in the paddock - Local Land ...

Preview of Soil Health Program | Boost Sugarcane Productivity, accessed July 18, 2025,

Soil Health Program | Boost Sugarcane Productivity, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support

National Soil Strategy, accessed July 16, 2025,

Preview of Soil management in orchards - Archive, accessed July 18, 2025,

Soil management in orchards - Archive, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support

Soil management in orchards - Archive, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Starting / Enhancing Your Regenerative Agriculture Journey, accessed July 18, 2025,

Starting / Enhancing Your Regenerative Agriculture Journey, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Regenerative Agriculture - a literature review on the practices and mechanisms used to improve soil health, accessed July 7, 2025,

Preview of Suitable methods of tillage for the farm, accessed July 18, 2025,

Suitable methods of tillage for the farm, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Suitable methods of tillage for the farm, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Water and Nitrogen Balance in Natural and Agricultural Systems in the Wet Tropics of North Queensland: A Review - Australian Banana Growers' Council, accessed July 18, 2025,

Water and Nitrogen Balance in Natural and Agricultural Systems in the Wet Tropics of North Queensland: A Review - Australian Banana Growers' Council, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support

(PDF) The impact of deforestation and pasture abandonment on soil ...

Preview of Water Use Limitations of Cover Crops in Dryland Cropping - CSANR, accessed July 18, 2025,

Water Use Limitations of Cover Crops in Dryland Cropping - CSANR, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support

Water Use Limitations of Cover Crops in Dryland Cropping - CSANR, accessed July 18, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type RegulatoryTrigger

Lifecycle

Status Superseded
Version 2
Effective From 10 Mar 2026
Effective To 10 Mar 2026

Notes

Applies specifically to banana cultivation in the Wet Tropics catchments.

Related Benchmarks

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