Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-TGP-AGR-SWI General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 50 to 70 mm/hr

Optimal Range: 50 to 70

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

The primary benchmark, representing a state of high ecological function for medium-textured soils (loams to sandy loams) under regenerative management, is identified as 50 - 70 mm/hr.

Metric Definition:

Soil Water Infiltration Rate (SWIR) within Australia's Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains biome, specifically for land under best-practice sustainable or regenerative agricultural crop production.

Benchmark Definition:

The infiltration rate representing the best available condition for medium-textured soils under regenerative agricultural management.

Justification:

Derived from field observations in well-structured cropping paddocks within the Australian wheatbelt, representing a high level of ecological function achievable under best-practice regenerative management.

Sources (1)

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

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

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Supporting Sources (8)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis | PLOS One, accessed July 6, 2025,

Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis | PLOS One, accessed July 6, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Critical review of the impacts of grazing intensity on soil organic carbon storage and other soil quality indicators in extensively managed grasslands - PubMed Central, accessed July 10, 2025,

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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,

View Source

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,

Contextual Support Journal

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

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Renovating damaged pastures and soils | Managing wet soils | Dairy | Livestock and animals | Agriculture Victoria

Contextual Support Government

Renovating damaged pastures and soils | Managing wet soils | Dairy | Livestock and animals | Agriculture Victoria

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Soil Health AssessmentGuide - Soils For Life

Methodology Source

Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis

View Source

Soil Health, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Health, accessed August 4, 2025

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TERN – Australian Acoustic Observatory | A2O, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

TERN – Australian Acoustic Observatory | A2O

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Water repellent soils - CSIRO

Contextual Support Government

Water repellent soils - CSIRO, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

Context

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

Lifecycle

Status Superseded
Version 1
Effective From 17 Mar 2026
Effective To 20 Mar 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. This value should be adjusted for soil texture; a rate of 10-25 mm/hr is a more appropriate best-practice benchmark for clay loams. Very high rates (>70 mm/hr), especially on sandy soils, may increase nutrient leaching risk, which must be managed through fertilizer timing.

Related Benchmarks

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