5.1.6—Soil transfers

Transfers move water, particles or dissolved substances; name the material and destination before choosing infiltration, percolation, leaching, flow, mixing, aeration or erosion.

Infiltration moves water into soil; percolation moves it through horizons; leaching transports dissolved substances; groundwater flow moves water below; burrowing organisms mix particles; aeration exchanges gases; and erosion detaches and exports particles.

Rain infiltrates, nitrate leaches with percolating water, and a stream later carries the dissolved load away.

Soil particles detached and transported by wind or water undergo erosion, not dissolved-solute leaching.

Infiltration and percolation are stages of movement, not interchangeable labels.