43. Infiltration and Consumptive Use

Try these first

1. 1.

   Define infiltration.

   Hint

   Think about the path water takes from rainfall to the soil.

2. 2.

   What is consumptive use?

   Hint

   Consider how plants use water.

3. 3.

   What is the main focus of infiltration in hydrology?

   • Surface runoff
   • Groundwater recharge
   • Evaporation

   Hint

   Think about what happens to water that sinks into the ground.

4. 4.

   True or False: Consumptive use includes water that evaporates without being used by plants.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Consider where water goes after it leaves the soil.

5. 5.

   A farmer has two fields: one with sandy soil and the other with clay soil. Discuss how infiltration rates would differ and how that affects irrigation timing.

   Hint

   Consider water movement through different soil types.

6. 6.

   Given the equation for consumptive use, use a hypothetical crop with K = 0.7, P = 50, and T = 25. Calculate the consumptive use.

   Hint

   Revisit the formula and plug in the values carefully.