ABSTRACT
Infiltration plays an important role in nature and human activities.
Infiltration
is defined as the passage of water through the surface of the soil, via pores or small openings, into the soil profile. Water infiltrating into the soil profile is a necessity for vegetative growth, contributes to underground water supplies that sustain dry-weather streamflow, and decreases surface runoff, soil erosion, and the movement of sediment and pollutants into surface water systems. Infiltration directly affects deep percolation, groundwater flow, and surface runoff contributions to the hydrologic balance in a watershed. Accounting for infiltration is fundamental to understanding and evaluating the hydrologic cycle.
