The movement of water from the surface into the soil is called infiltration. The infiltration characteristics of the soil are one of the dominant variables influencing irrigation. Infiltration rate is the soil characteristic
determining the maximum rate at which water can enter the soil under specific conditions, including the presence of excess water. It has the dimensions of velocity. The actual rate at which water is entering the soil at any given time is termed the Infiltration velocity.
The infiltration rate decreases during irrigation. The rate of decrease is rapid
initially and the infiltration rate tends to approach a constant value. The nearly constant
rate that develops after some time has elapsed from the start of irrigation is called the
basic infiltration rate.
- Factors Affecting Infiltration Rate
The major factors affecting the infiltration of water into the soil are the initial moisture content, condition of the soil surface, hydraulic conductivity of the soil profile, texture, porosity, and degree of swelling of soil colloids and organic matter, vegetative cover, duration of irrigation or rainfall and viscosity of water. The antecedent soil moisture content has considerable influence on the initial rate and total amount of infiltration, both decreasing as the soil moisture content rises. The infiltration rate of any soil is limited by any restraint to the flow of water into and through the soil profile. The soil layer with the lowest permeability, either at the surface or below it, usually determines the infiltration rate. - Infiltration rates are also affected by the porosity of the soil which is changed by cultivation or compaction. Cultivation influences the infiltration rate by increasing the porosity of the surface soil and breaking up the surface seals. The effect of tillage on infiltration usually lasts only until the soil settles back to its former condition of bulk density because of subsequent irrigations.
- Infiltration rates are generally lower in soils of heavy texture than on soils of light texture. The influence of water depth over soil on infiltration rate was investigated by many workers. It has been established that in surface irrigation, increased depth increases initial infiltration slightly but the head has negligible effect after prolonged irrigation. Infiltration rates are also influenced by the vegetal cover.
- Infiltration rates on grassland is substantially higher than bare uncultivated land. Additions of organic matter increase infiltration rate substantially. The hydraulic conductivity of the soil profile often change during infiltration, not only because of increasing moisture content, but also because of the puddling of the surface caused by reorientation of surface particles and washing of finger materials into the soil.
- Viscosity of water influences infiltration. The high rates of infiltration in the tropics under otherwise comparable soil conditions is due to the low viscosity of warm water.
