Measurement of infiltration rates in soils

188-191Knowledge of infiltration characteristics is necessary for hydrological studies in different soils and land uses. It may be defined as the process of water entry into the soil. Initially, the rate of infiltration uses to be higher and then reduces with elapsed time till attaining a constant infiltration rate (final infiltration rate). The infiltration is mainly affected by intensity and duration of rainfall, soil characteristics, soil moisture content, vegetal cover, land use, etc. Thus, infiltration is an essential component for water balance studies of different watersheds. Therefore, information about infiltration characteristics is very much useful in hydrological studies and agriculture. In the present paper, infiltration characteristics of Jammu, Kathua and Udhampur Districts (J.&K.) and Baira Nalla sub-catchment (H.P.) obtained under different landuses viz., forest, grass, agriculture, barren have been discussed. The studies have shown higher initial infiltration rates in forest and lowest in barren land uses, respectively