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

A soil with ORGANIC MATTER on the surface is likely to have a higher infiltration rate than the same soil with no organic matter on the surface.
A soil with LIVING PLANTS will tend to have a higher infiltration rate than the same soil with few
and even a soil with DEAD PLANTS standing (such as stubble) is likely to have a higher infiltration rate than the same soil without the stubble.

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

infiltration
water-holding capacity
the ability of the soil to resist unnecessary evaporation
soil density and depth
freedom from hard pans

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