Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-AMR-CON-SWI General High confidence

Benchmark Value

33.3 mm/hr
Range: 13.2 to 45 mm/hr
Optimal Range: 13.2 to 45
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.

Evidence & Context

An average of 33.3 mm/hr for Medium Clay soils under successful restoration.

Metric Definition:

Average steady-state infiltration rate in mm/hr for Medium Clay soils under ecological restoration.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the average steady-state soil water infiltration rate in millimeters per hour for Medium Clay soils under successful ecological restoration in arid mountain ranges and uplands.

Justification:

Represents successful ecological restoration of degraded medium clay soil through best-practice water management.

Sources (1)

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 Journal

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

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 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
Direct Evidence 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 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

Context

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

Lifecycle

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

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Average value (range 13.2–45 mm/hr) from the Hamilton Downs 'ponded' site.

Related Benchmarks

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

— mm/hr High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
OptimalRange 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