Which soil type typically has rapid infiltration?

• A. Clay soil
• B. Loamy soil
• C. Sandy soil
• D. Silt soil

Answer: (C)

Infiltration rate is driven by soil texture—how large the soil particles are and how the pore spaces between them are arranged. Sandy soil has coarse grains and large pore spaces, including networks of macropores that water can move through quickly, so water rapidly enters and drains from the soil. In contrast, clay has very fine particles that pack tightly and create many tiny pores with strong capillary forces, which slow water movement into the soil. Loamy soil, a mix of sand, silt, and clay, tends to infiltrate water at a moderate to fast rate but not as quickly as pure sand. Silt sits between sand and clay in texture and usually infiltrates faster than clay but slower than sand, depending on structure and organic matter. Therefore, the soil type that typically shows rapid infiltration is sandy soil because its coarse texture and open pore structure allow water to infiltrate quickly.