ABSTRACT

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