Effects of Soil Compaction and Seasonal Influence on Soil Infiltration Rate in Semi-Arid Region of Nigeria

Abstract

This paper investigates the effect of soil compaction and seasonal changes on infiltration rates of soils. Study area was divided into three stations having both compacted and non-compacted soils for infiltration capacity tests covered both dry and wet seasons. For dry season measurements, the infiltration rate of a fine/silty sand non-compacted soil range from 2.8 cm/hr to 10.3 cm/hr and 1.7 cm/hr to 5.5 cm/hr for a compacted fine/silty sand soil. For wet season measurements, average infiltration rate of a non-compacted fine/silty sand soil in all the stations range from 1.3 cm/hr to 5.7 cm/hr and 0.8 cm/hr to 3.9 cm/hr for a compacted fine/silty sand soil in all the stations. This shows the influence of both the seasonal changes and soil compaction on soil infiltration rate as compacted soil gave significant lower infiltration rates. Infiltration rates during the dry season was observed to be higher compared to the wet season as a result of more voids being filled with moisture during the wet season. Soil permeability was also observed to be higher in the non-compacted soils than compacted ones. The study is helpful in enhancing the passage of sufficient moisture into the root zones for crop use and preventing excessive runoff. Further studies on effects of different levels of soil compaction on soil infiltration are recommended.