Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-AMR-CON-SWI General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 30 to 70 mm/hr
Optimal Range: 30 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 recommended benchmarks, differentiated by soil texture to reflect varying inherent potential, are: 30 - 70 mm/hr for general Loamy to Sandy-Loam soils within mature, stable vegetation groves.

Metric Definition:

Soil water infiltration rate measured as steady-state infiltration capacity in mm/hr within high-functioning vegetated groves in arid mountain ranges and uplands.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the steady-state soil water infiltration rate range measured in millimeters per hour within mature, stable vegetated groves in arid mountain ranges and uplands, indicating high ecological function.

Justification:

These values represent the infiltration capacity measured within mature, stable, and highly functional mulga grove ecosystems (resource sinks) at Fowlers Gap and Menindee, reflecting a high state of natural ecological function.

Sources (1)

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 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

Supporting Sources (3)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Effects of soil degradation on infiltration rates in grazed semiarid rangelands of northeastern Patagonia, Argentina - project bedrock
Effects of soil degradation on infiltration rates in grazed semiarid rangelands of northeastern Patagonia, Argentina - project bedrock
Contextual Support Journal

Effects of Grazing on Water Erosion, Compaction and Infiltration on Grasslands - MDPI

View Source
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

Monitor Soil Degradation or Triage for Soil Security? An Australian Challenge - MDPI, accessed July 8, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Water Infiltration Rates into Unponded and Ponded Soils in Central Australia - Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Water Infiltration Rates into Unponded and Ponded Soils in Central Australia - Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Contextual Support Journal

Water Infiltration Rates into Unponded and Ponded Soils in Central Australia - Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. This benchmark range represents the measured infiltration capacity within high-functioning, mature vegetated 'groves' (resource sinks) in Australian arid woodlands, which exemplify the best available natural condition.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AMR-CON-SWI family.

33.3 mm/hr High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Rehabilitation Target
Point Active v1
20.2 mm/hr High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Rehabilitation Target
Point Active v1
— mm/hr High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
OptimalRange Active v1