Infiltration describes which process?

• A. Water entering soil
• B. Water leaving soil
• C. Water pooling on surface
• D. Water evaporating

Answer: (A)

Infiltration is the movement of water from the surface into the soil. When rain or irrigation hits the ground, some of the water soaks into the soil and travels downward through the pore spaces, driven by gravity and capillary forces. This process increases soil moisture and can contribute to groundwater recharge over time. It is not about water leaving the soil as runoff, pooling on the surface, or evaporating into vapor, which are different processes. Infiltration is influenced by soil texture and structure, surface cover, and soil moisture; in rangelands, good cover and well-structured soils promote infiltration, while surface crusts or compaction can limit it and increase runoff.