INFILTRATION:

Definition, Factors, and Measurements

GROUP 1
Reporters

MONTESCLAROS, ANGELO
Leader

B A L I G H O T, G L E N N
Member

G U LT I A N O , J E A N N E T H
Member

M A E S T R A D O , L E O J AY
Member

TIMTIM, KARL FRANCES

Member
 DE FINITI ON
What is
INFILTRATION?
 process of water entry into a soil from
rainfall, or irrigation.

P E R C O LAT I O N

also known as SOIL WATER MOVEMENT

the process of water flow from one point to
another point within the soil
 DE FINITI ON
INFILTRATION RATE INFILTRATION CAPACITY

Is the rate at which the water actually

Is the maximum rate at which a soil in any
infiltrates through the soil during a storm
given condition is capable of absorbing
and it must be equal the infiltration
water.
capacities or the rainfall rate, which ever is
lesser.
FACTORS AFFECTING INFILTRATION
I. SOIL TEXTURE AND STRUCTURE
The conditions at the surface, therefore,
cannot increase infiltration unless the
transmission capacity of the soil profile is
adequate.

FACTORS
II. CONDITION AT SOIL SURFACE
Even if the subsoil has excellent under
drainage but at the surface soil pores are
sealed due to turbid water or by in wash of
fine soil particles it may prevent entry of
water into the soil and infiltration rate will
b e l o w.

III. SOIL MOISTURE CONTENT

When the soil is fairly dry the rate of
infiltration into the soil is quite high.
 IV. TYPE OF VEGETATIVE COVER
Ve g e t a t i v e c o v e r a ff e c t s s u r f a c e e n t r y o f
water s i g n i f i c a n t l y. The vegetation or
mulches protect the soil surface from impact
of rain drops.

FACTORS
V. SOIL TEMPERATURE
If saturated soil mass gets frozen due to
severe low temperature it becomes nearly
impermeable.

VI. HUMAN ACTIVITIES

If the soil surface gets compacted due to
construction of roads, operation of tractors and
other farm implements and machinery the
porosity of the soil is decreased.
MEASUREMENTS OF
INFILTRATION
 Areal
Measurement
MEASUREMENTS

Areal infiltration estimation is

accomplished by analysis of
r a i n f a l l - r u n o ff data from a
w a t e r s h e d . t h e r u n o ff h y d r o g r a p h
is integrated to calculate the
r u n o ff v o l u m e .

𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒=𝑟𝑢𝑛𝑜𝑓𝑓 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 −𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒

𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒=
𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑑𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
 Point
Measurements
MEASUREMENTS
Point infiltration measurements
are normally made by applying
water at a specific site to a
finite area and measuring the
intake of the soil.
An infiltrometer should be
chosen that replicates the
system being investigated
T Y P E S O F P O I N T M
E A S U R E M E N T S
1. R I N G I N F I L T R O M E T E R
- should be used to determine infiltration
rates for inundated soils such as flood irrigation or
pond seepage
2. S P R I N K L E R
I N F I L T R O M E T E R
- should be used where the effect of rainfall on
surface conditions influences the
infiltration rate
 Ring or Cylinder
Infiltrometers
MEASUREMENTS

• These infiltrometers are usually metal rings with a

diameter of 30 to 100 cm and a height of 20 cm.
• The ring is driven into the ground about 5 cm, water is
applied inside the ring with a constant-head device, and
intake measurements are recorded until a constant rate
of infiltration is attained.
• To help eliminate the effect of lateral spreading use a
double-ring infiltrometer, which is a ring infiltrometer
with a second larger ring around it.
Sprinkler Infiltrometer (Rain
Simulator)

MEASUREMENTS
• With the help of rain simulator, water is
sprinkled at a uniform rate in excess of the
infiltration capacity, over a certain experimental
area.
• The resultant runoff R is observed. From that,
the infiltration f using f = (P-R)/t.

Where, P = Rain sprinkled

R = runoff collected, and
t = duration of rainfall.
 Example
Rain-Simulator Infiltrometer Data
• A USGS rain-simulator infiltrometer experiment was

MEASUREMENTS
conducted on a sandy loam soil. Rainfall was
simulated at the rate of 20 cm/hr. The rainfall and
runoff data are given in table.

a) Find and plot the mass-infiltration curve from the

experimental data.
b) Plot an infiltration rate curve.
 Solution

MEASUREMENTS
• The measured data are given in Columns 1, 3 and
4. Cumulative infiltration F is calculated by

• Infiltration rate f is then determined by

 END

• http://mgebrekiros.github.io/IntroductoryHydrology/Infiltration.pdf
References:
• https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/water/infiltration/infiltration-concept-and-factors-affecting-infiltratio
n/60457