factors affecting infiltration

Question 1

Types of vegetation

Answer 1

• forests = lots of infiltration
• root systems provide pathways for water to infiltrate into the soil
• types of vegetation affect infiltration

Question 2

gradient of land

Answer 2

• steeper slopes have less infiltration as there is more surface runoff and overland flow

Question 3

grazing areas

Answer 3

• grazing areas = grass = small root system
• cattle can compact ground

Question 4

heavy rainfall

Answer 4

• intensity of the rainfall
• lighter rainfall has more time to infiltrate into the ground whereas heavy rainfall leads to surface runoff and less infiltration

Question 5

type of soil

Answer 5

• type of soil = how deep the soil is = soil depth
• deeper soil = more infiltration

Question 6

Soil moisture content

Answer 6

• Soil moisture content affects infiltration
• Sandy soil = high infiltration due to loss of pores (porous) for water to seep through
• clay soil = low levels of infiltration
• If theres already moisture in the soil less infiltration occurs.