What is Infiltration?

• A. Water going into the land
• B. Water evaporating from the soil
• C. Water running off the surface
• D. Water held in the soil

Answer: (A)

Infiltration is the process of water entering the soil from the surface. When rain or irrigation reaches the ground, some of that water moves from the surface into the soil pores and downward, seeping into the subsurface. That’s why it’s described as water going into the land. Evaporation would be water turning into vapor and leaving the surface, runoff is water that flows across the surface rather than entering the soil, and water held in the soil refers to moisture already stored inside after infiltration has occurred, not the entry itself. Infiltration rate depends on factors like soil texture and structure, moisture level, vegetation, and how intense the rainfall is, and it’s a key step in recharging groundwater and reducing surface runoff.