Assessment of the Effect of Particle Size Distribution and Rock Fragment on Water Infiltration Variables in Some Soils of a Semi-Arid Region

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Soil Science and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

2 Department of Soil Science and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture

Abstract

Water infiltration into soil is one of the most important physical properties for effective water and soil resource management, and it can be influenced by soil particle size distribution. This study was conducted to investigate the role of particle size distribution and gravel content on water infiltration indices in selected soils of the semi-arid region of Zanjan Province, Iran. Water infiltration was measured at 68 locations using the double-ring infiltrometer method. The measured infiltration indices included cumulative infiltration, effective infiltration depth, initial infiltration rate, final infiltration rate, and mean infiltration rate, along with particle size distribution and several other physical properties. Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative relationship (P < 0.01, r = –0.51) between effective infiltration depth and silt content, whereas a significant positive correlation (P < 0.05, r = 0.38) was observed between silt content and both cumulative infiltration and initial infiltration rate. Bulk density (BD) was significantly correlated with sand and silt fractions (r = 0.49 and r = –0.51, respectively; P < 0.05). Moreover, BD exhibited significant correlations (P < 0.05) with various sand fractions (very coarse sand, coarse sand, medium sand, and fine sand). BD also showed significant negative correlations with all measured infiltration indices (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01). The findings indicated that particle size distribution, in addition to its direct effect, plays an important indirect role in controlling the infiltration process through its influence on BD and soil porosity.

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Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 25 April 2026

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