Soil Moisture — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

Benchmark Value

26 % VWC

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: Point

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

CompositeFramework Primary OptimalRange Guard Point Guard CompositeFramework Guard MinimumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard LowerThreshold Guard CompositeFramework Guard

Evidence & Context

Lower Critical Threshold: Plant water stress initiates when moisture drops below the critical threshold (θcrit 0b), estimated at ~26% volumetric water content for humid ecosystems, which is the most relevant analogue for this biome.

Metric Definition:

Critical soil moisture threshold (θcrit) below which evapotranspiration becomes limited by water availability, inducing plant water stress.

Benchmark Definition:

The soil moisture level below which plants begin to experience water stress due to limited evapotranspiration.

Justification:

This threshold is based on global eco-hydrological studies and is the most appropriate value for humid ecosystems analogous to the Tropical and Subtropical Rainforest biome.

Sources (1)

Preview of Mapping critical soil moisture thresholds of water stress for global grasslands | Request PDF, accessed July 19, 2025,

Mapping critical soil moisture thresholds of water stress for global grasslands | Request PDF, accessed July 19, 2025, Journal

Global critical soil moisture thresholds of plant water stress

Supporting Sources (39)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) A review of the changes in soil quality and profitability accomplished by sowing rotation crops after cotton in Australian Vertosols from 1970 to 2006 - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

(PDF) A review of the changes in soil quality and profitability accomplished by sowing rotation crops after cotton in Australian Vertosols from 1970 to 2006 - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support

(PDF) A review of the changes in soil quality and profitability accomplished by sowing rotation crops after cotton in Australian Vertosols from 1970 to 2006 - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Preview of (PDF) Site selection for farm forestry in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

(PDF) Site selection for farm forestry in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support

(PDF) Site selection for farm forestry in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Preview of Australia wide daily volumetric soil moisture estimates - TERN Data Discovery Portal, accessed July 19, 2025,

Australia wide daily volumetric soil moisture estimates - TERN Data Discovery Portal, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source Government

TERN SMIPS - esoil.io

Preview of Australia: Country Case Study | CABI, accessed July 19, 2025,

Australia: Country Case Study | CABI, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Australia: Country Case Study | CABI, accessed July 19, 2025,

Preview of Australian CliMate - Soil Water App to, accessed July 19, 2025,

Australian CliMate - Soil Water App to, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Australian CliMate - Soil Water App to, accessed July 19, 2025,

Preview of Bark residue as a soil amendment in broadacre intensive vegetable production - AUSVEG, accessed July 19, 2025,

Bark residue as a soil amendment in broadacre intensive vegetable production - AUSVEG, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Bark residue as a soil amendment in broadacre intensive vegetable production - AUSVEG, accessed July 19, 2025,

Preview of Climate change mitigation as a co-benefit of regenerative ranching: insights from Australia and the United States - PMC, accessed July 10, 2025,

Climate change mitigation as a co-benefit of regenerative ranching: insights from Australia and the United States - PMC, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Long term effects of different stocking strategies on land condition and profitabilty in a highly variable climate, accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of Delivering continuous improvement of the farming resource - Soils For Life, accessed July 19, 2025,

Delivering continuous improvement of the farming resource - Soils For Life, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support

Tropical Grasslands (2000) Volume 34, 223–229 - Change the management and what happens perspective, accessed July 19, 2025

Preview of Demonstrating productive, regenerative Burdekin grazing practices | Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 19, 2025,

Demonstrating productive, regenerative Burdekin grazing practices | Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Grazing intensity influence soil microbial communities and their ..., accessed July 19, 2025

Preview of Disentangling the effects of management and climate on perennial grass pastures and the degradation that follows multi-year droughts - MSSANZ, accessed July 19, 2025,

Disentangling the effects of management and climate on perennial grass pastures and the degradation that follows multi-year droughts - MSSANZ, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Science meets practice in Australia's longest running commercial grazing trial

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 Journal

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 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 - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 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 - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

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 - ResearchGate, accessed July 17, 2025

Preview of Dung Beetle Activity Is Soil-Type-Dependent and Modulates Pasture Growth and Associated Soil Microbiome - MDPI, accessed July 19, 2025,

Dung Beetle Activity Is Soil-Type-Dependent and Modulates Pasture Growth and Associated Soil Microbiome - MDPI, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Dung Beetle Activity Is Soil-Type-Dependent and Modulates Pasture Growth and Associated Soil Microbiome - MDPI, accessed July 19, 2025,

Preview of Final report - MLA, accessed July 19, 2025,

Final report - MLA, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil management practices in the Alps - Zavod za gozdove slovenije, accessed May 7, 2026

Preview of functions-of-soil-organic-matter-and-the-effect-on-soil-properties.pdf.pdf, accessed July 19, 2025,

functions-of-soil-organic-matter-and-the-effect-on-soil-properties.pdf.pdf, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The biodiversity cost of carbon sequestration in tropical savanna - PMC - PubMed Central

Preview of Getting the measure of soil moisture in Australia | TERN Australia, accessed July 19, 2025,

Getting the measure of soil moisture in Australia | TERN Australia, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Getting the measure of soil moisture in Australia | TERN Australia

Preview of Global critical soil moisture thresholds of plant water stress - PMC, accessed July 19, 2025,

Global critical soil moisture thresholds of plant water stress - PMC, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Global critical soil moisture thresholds of plant water stress - PMC, accessed July 20, 2025

Preview of Grazing Management and Soil Health - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 19, 2025,

Grazing Management and Soil Health - Natural Resources Conservation Service, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Correlates of grass-species composition in a savanna woodland in ..., accessed July 23, 2025,

Preview of How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers, accessed July 19, 2025,

How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Ward Laboratories. (n.d.). Fungal to Bacterial Ratios: What and Why?

Preview of Impacts of improved grazing land management on sediment yields, Part 1: Hillslope processes - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Impacts of improved grazing land management on sediment yields, Part 1: Hillslope processes - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Impacts of improved grazing land management on sediment yields, Part 1: Hillslope processes - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Preview of Leucaena - MLA, accessed July 19, 2025,

Leucaena - MLA, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Leucaena - MLA, accessed July 19, 2025,

Preview of Life Cycle Inventory and Life Cycle Assessment for Windrow Composting Systems - NSW Environment Protection Authority, accessed July 19, 2025,

Life Cycle Inventory and Life Cycle Assessment for Windrow Composting Systems - NSW Environment Protection Authority, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Life Cycle Inventory and Life Cycle Assessment for Windrow Composting Systems - NSW Environment Protection Authority, accessed July 19, 2025,

Preview of Looking for suitable indicators. What should be considered to assess the effects of use and management on soil health? - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Looking for suitable indicators. What should be considered to assess the effects of use and management on soil health? - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) The measurement of soil fungal:bacterial biomass ratios as an indicator of ecosystem self-regulation in temperate meadow grasslands - ResearchGate, accessed July 23, 2025

Preview of Modelling and prediction of soil water contents at field capacity and permanent wilting point of dryland cropping soils - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Modelling and prediction of soil water contents at field capacity and permanent wilting point of dryland cropping soils - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Direct Evidence

Modelling and prediction of soil water contents at field capacity and permanent wilting point of dryland cropping soils - ResearchGate

Preview of Monitor Soil Degradation or Triage for Soil Security? An Australian Challenge - MDPI, accessed July 19, 2025,

Monitor Soil Degradation or Triage for Soil Security? An Australian Challenge - MDPI, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Healthy soils and water infiltration in the paddock - Local Land Services - NSW Government

Preview of Planning farm drainage | Managing wet soils | Dairy | Livestock and animals | Agriculture Victoria, accessed July 19, 2025,

Planning farm drainage | Managing wet soils | Dairy | Livestock and animals | Agriculture Victoria, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Planning farm drainage | Managing wet soils | Dairy | Livestock and animals | Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 6, 2025

Preview of Raised bed cropping in southern Victoria – A snapshot of a productive and sustainable option for waterlogging prone soils - Agronomy Australia Proceedings, accessed July 19, 2025,

Raised bed cropping in southern Victoria – A snapshot of a productive and sustainable option for waterlogging prone soils - Agronomy Australia Proceedings, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Raised bed cropping in southern Victoria – A snapshot of a productive and sustainable option for waterlogging prone soils - Agronomy Australia Proceedings, accessed July 19, 2025,

Preview of Resting pastures to improve land condition in northern Australia: Guidelines based on the literature and simulation modelling | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Resting pastures to improve land condition in northern Australia: Guidelines based on the literature and simulation modelling | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Resting pastures to improve land condition in northern Australia: Guidelines based on the literature and simulation modelling | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Preview of Resting Subtropical Grasslands from Grazing in the Wet Season ..., accessed July 19, 2025,

Resting Subtropical Grasslands from Grazing in the Wet Season ..., accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Resting Subtropical Grasslands from Grazing in the Wet Season ..., accessed July 19, 2025,

Preview of SEED GUIDE, accessed July 19, 2025,

SEED GUIDE, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support

SEED GUIDE, accessed July 19, 2025,

Preview of Soil and Crop Management Practices to Minimize the Impact of Waterlogging on Crop Productivity - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 19, 2025,

Soil and Crop Management Practices to Minimize the Impact of Waterlogging on Crop Productivity - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Chapter 18 - Waterlogging and submergence, accessed July 21, 2025

Preview of The Australian Soil Resource Information System | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

The Australian Soil Resource Information System | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The Australian Soil Resource Information System | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Preview of The New Rural Industries-A Handbook for Farmers and Investors - Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, accessed July 19, 2025,

The New Rural Industries-A Handbook for Farmers and Investors - Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support

The New Rural Industries-A Handbook for Farmers and Investors - Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, accessed July 19, 2025,

Preview of The Wambiana grazing trial | FutureBeef, accessed July 19, 2025,

The Wambiana grazing trial | FutureBeef, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Wambiana grazing trial - FutureBeef

Preview of Wambiana: Grazing strategies and tools to improve profitability and land condition - Department of Primary Industries, Queensland, accessed July 19, 2025,

Wambiana: Grazing strategies and tools to improve profitability and land condition - Department of Primary Industries, Queensland, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Wambiana: Grazing strategies and tools to improve profitability and land condition - Department of Primary Industries, Queensland, accessed July 19, 2025,

Preview of Waterlogging | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 19, 2025,

Waterlogging | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Soil Water - Tas | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au, accessed August 6, 2025

Preview of Waterlogging in Australian agricultural landscapes: a review of plant responses and crop models - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,

Waterlogging in Australian agricultural landscapes: a review of plant responses and crop models - ResearchGate, accessed July 7, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Waterlogging in Australian agricultural landscapes: a review of plant responses and crop models - ResearchGate

Preview of What is pugging? | Pasture recovery after pugging damage ..., accessed July 19, 2025,

What is pugging? | Pasture recovery after pugging damage ..., accessed July 19, 2025,

Direct Evidence

What is pugging?

Preview of www.barrierreef.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,

www.barrierreef.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative Agriculture Program restoring soil pH case study: Macdonald, Whites Flat/Koppio, accessed July 18, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 1 Jun 2026

Notes

Represents the onset of significant plant water stress and ecological function compromise. Sustainable management can mitigate severity and duration of stress below this threshold. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSR-LVG-SMO family.