Interpretation

If your infiltration rate is quick, it indicates your top soil structure is good, with stable aggregates, around which water can percolate down into the soil profile.
 
If your infiltration rate is slow, it indicates your top soil structure is poor. The top soil has unstable aggregates and is compact, blocking water from percolating downwards. Instead water runs off taking topsoil and nutrients with it.
 

• Healthy soils hold and infiltrate water, unhealthy soils don’t.
• Clay soil will drain more slowly than sandy soil.
• Heavily compacted soil will not drain well.
• Shallow soil will not drain well.