Review Paper on Effect of Natural Condition on Soil Infiltration

Abstract

Soil infiltration refers to the soil’s ability to allow water movement into and through the soil profile. The process of infiltration can be affected by some factors such as those related to the type of soil which can be mentioned: texture, structure, porosity, organic matter content, clay type, retention capacity and hydraulic conductivity; natural factors such as precipitation, humidity, changes in seasons and temperatures, and last, surface factors that modify the water-air interface and causes changes in the water, among those, stands out the management, agricultural crops and irrigation and drainage processes. Infiltration is the flow of water through the soil surface into a porous medium under gravity action and pressure effects. Soil texture (percentage of sand, silt, and clay) is the major inherent factor affecting infiltration. Water moves more quickly through large pores of sandy soil than it does through small pores of clayey soil, especially if clay is compacted and has little or no structure or aggregation. High organic matter and clay content improves soil structure increase, cation exchange capacity, hydolic conductivity macrospores, aggregate stability, soil moisture content, effective rain fall and root penetration of soil reduces bulk density, compaction, run off, evaporation from root surface all the above process are directly linked with process of infiltration Soil infiltration refers to the soil’s ability to allow water movement into and through the soil profile. The process of infiltration can be affected by some factors such as those related to the type of soil which can be mentioned: texture, structure, porosity, organic matter content, clay type, retention capacity and hydraulic conductivity; natural factors such as precipitation, humidity, changes in seasons and temperatures, and last, surface factors that modify the water-air interface and causes changes in the water, among those, stands out the management, agricultural crops and irrigation and drainage processes. Infiltration is the flow of water through the soil surface into a porous medium under gravity action and pressure effects. Soil texture (percentage of sand, silt, and clay) is the major inherent factor affecting infiltration. Water moves more quickly through large pores of sandy soil than it does through small pores of clayey soil, especially if clay is compacted and has little or no structure or aggregation. High organic matter and clay content improves soil structure increase, cation exchange capacity, hydolic conductivity macrospores, aggregate stability, soil moisture content, effective rain fall and root penetration of soil reduces bulk density, compaction, run off, evaporation from root surface all the above process are directly linked with process of infiltration.