Infiltration Rate Calculation

Soil Infiltration Rate Calculator

Results:

Surface Area: 0 cm²

Infiltration Depth: 0 cm

Infiltration Rate: 0 mm/hr

function calculateInfiltration() { var diameter = parseFloat(document.getElementById('ringDiameter').value); var volume = parseFloat(document.getElementById('waterVolume').value); var timeMin = parseFloat(document.getElementById('timeMinutes').value); var resultDiv = document.getElementById('infiltrationResult'); if (isNaN(diameter) || isNaN(volume) || isNaN(timeMin) || diameter <= 0 || volume <= 0 || timeMin 20) { hint = "Typical for: Sandy or gravelly soils (High permeability)."; } else if (rateMmHr > 5) { hint = "Typical for: Loamy soils (Moderate permeability)."; } else { hint = "Typical for: Clay soils or compacted surfaces (Low permeability)."; } document.getElementById('soilTypeHint').innerText = hint; resultDiv.style.display = 'block'; }

Understanding Soil Infiltration Rate

Infiltration rate is a measure of how quickly soil can absorb water. It is usually expressed in millimeters per hour (mm/hr). This metric is vital for irrigation planning, drainage system design, and flood risk assessment.

The Formula Used

1. Surface Area (A) = π × (Diameter / 2)²
2. Depth Infiltrated (D) = Volume / A
3. Rate = (D / Time) × 60 (to get per hour)

Practical Example

If you use a 15 cm diameter ring, pour 500 ml of water, and it takes 15 minutes to soak in:

• Ring Area: 176.71 cm²
• Depth: 2.83 cm
• Rate: (2.83 cm / 15 min) × 60 = 11.32 cm/hr (or 113.2 mm/hr)

Factors Affecting Infiltration

• Soil Texture: Coarse sandy soils have high rates, while fine clay soils have low rates.
• Compaction: Highly compacted soils (like roads or heavy-traffic lawns) have significantly lower infiltration.
• Vegetation: Roots create channels that usually increase the infiltration rate.
• Saturation: Wet soil absorbs water much slower than dry soil.