Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-AKW-CON-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

30 mm/hr
Range: 30 to — mm/hr
Thresholds: Lower: 10, Upper: —
Optimal Range: 30 to —
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: Point

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

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

A reference value of 30 mm/hr is selected as the benchmark for the best available condition.

Metric Definition:

Soil Water Infiltration Rate within vegetated patches (groves/runon zones)

Benchmark Definition:

The infiltration rate within vegetated patches (groves/runon zones) representing the best available condition for soil hydrological function in arid karstic woodlands and shrublands under conservation management.

Justification:

It sits centrally within the most robust and relevant range (15 - 45 mm/hr) observed in Australian arid chenopod shrubland and woodland groves, represents high function, is conservative but aspirational, and is derived from studies using a functionally appropriate measurement technique.

Sources (1)

Preview of Observations of soil moisture and infiltrability in contour-aligned, banded chenopod shrubland at Fowlers Gap, arid western NSW, Australia
Observations of soil moisture and infiltrability in contour-aligned, banded chenopod shrubland at Fowlers Gap, arid western NSW, Australia GreyLiterature

Infiltration rates and soil moisture in a groved mulga community near Alice Springs, arid central Australia: Evidence for complex internal rainwater redistribution in a runoff-runon landscape | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source

Supporting Sources (5)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of A comparison of the soils from two areas of sorted step chenopod patterned ground, at Fowlers Gap Field Station, western New South Wales. | Request PDF - ResearchGate
A comparison of the soils from two areas of sorted step chenopod patterned ground, at Fowlers Gap Field Station, western New South Wales. | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

A comparison of the soils from two areas of sorted step chenopod patterned ground, at Fowlers Gap Field Station, western New South Wales. | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Critical review of the impacts of grazing intensity on soil organic carbon storage and other soil quality indicators in extensively managed grasslands - PubMed Central
Critical review of the impacts of grazing intensity on soil organic carbon storage and other soil quality indicators in extensively managed grasslands - PubMed Central
Contextual Support

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

View Source
Preview of Infiltration rates and soil moisture in a groved mulga community near Alice Springs, arid central Australia: Evidence for complex internal rainwater redistribution in a runoff-runon landscape | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Infiltration rates and soil moisture in a groved mulga community near Alice Springs, arid central Australia: Evidence for complex internal rainwater redistribution in a runoff-runon landscape | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

Infiltration rates and soil moisture in a groved mulga community near Alice Springs, arid central Australia: Evidence for complex internal rainwater redistribution in a runoff-runon landscape | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Soil Infiltration Properties Are Affected by Typical Plant Communities in a Semi-Arid Desert Grassland in China - MDPI
Soil Infiltration Properties Are Affected by Typical Plant Communities in a Semi-Arid Desert Grassland in China - MDPI
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Infiltration Properties Are Affected by Typical Plant Communities in a Semi-Arid Desert Grassland in China - MDPI, accessed July 10, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Summary of infiltration rates in arid and semiarid regions of the world, with an annotated bibliography By MS Bedinger US
Summary of infiltration rates in arid and semiarid regions of the world, with an annotated bibliography By MS Bedinger US
Contextual Support Journal

Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 10, 2025,

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 19 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 10 mm/hr. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. This benchmark specifically applies to infiltration rate within vegetated patches, not as a landscape average, reflecting the ecosystem's runoff-runon dynamic.