Infiltration

This is the process where water (from rain, irrigation, runoff or wastes) enters the soil surface through cracks or pores (small passageways between soil particles).

Various factors to do with the existing soil and other factors controlled by your management can affect infiltration rates.

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Hard and particularly a crusted soil surface
can cut infiltration rates substantially. A crusted surface allows faster flow and generally, the faster water travels over the surface, the less water will infiltrate.


Surface roughness
A smooth soil surface can cut infiltration rates substantially. A smooth surface allows faster flow and generally, the faster water travels over the surface, the less water will infiltrate.


Number of pore spaces and their size
Sandy soils have high infiltration rates and some clay soils have low or no infiltration. Also the number of earthworm holes and other large holes. To improve infiltration you can boost your earthworm numbers and activity - soil organic matter is a major factor here.


Dead or living plant matter


The amount of moisture in your soils
The amount of moisture in your soils is one of the key factors setting infiltration rates. A soil that is too dry may not be able to take in the water that it needs to return to optimal moisture levels. Similarly a soil that is holding water beyond its field capacity will not allow any more water in unless some drains out.


Water repellence
Some soils team to repel water, particularly if they are not sufficiently moist.


The amount of moisture in your soils is one of the key factors in boosting yields of crops and pastures and in delaying the onset of drought. To store high levels of moisture in your soils, you need to get your soil to take in high levels of moisture. Take note of the factors above and boost the ones that will improve infiltration rates.

By integrating them into other farming activities, you can keep on farming in the same way while improving future yields and delaying the start of any dry spell or drought.

Overall, it pays to boost soil moisture by improving

Related info:

Percolation

Permeability

Grazing shock

Green manures

Return a third to the soil

Non-inversion tillage


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This page was updated on December 27, 2007