Infiltration rate

Severe soil erosion in a cornfield in the USA - the infiltration rate of a soil has an effect on its susceptibility to erosion

The infiltration rate describes the volume of water a soil can absorb over a period of time. In Central Europe , the value is usually between five and 10 millimeters per half hour.

The infiltration rate is an important figure for determining the susceptibility of a soil to erosion . To soil erosion occurs when the rainfall intensity is higher than the rate of infiltration. For example, during thunderstorms in arid areas, the amount of precipitation is often well above the infiltration rate. The influence of rain on the rate of erosion in an area depends not only on the total amount of rain, but also on the proportion of summer rain in this total. This can vary considerably depending on the region. For example, the proportion of summer rain in the outskirts of the Alps is two and a half times higher than that in regions of southern Germany with little rain .

The infiltration rate is u. a. depending on macroporosity, slope, cover and vegetation.