Hydro Cycle

water moves downhill/ intensity that its moving over surface

When moving water starts picking up soil particles and moving them

Water taken from roots up plant, then stomata opens and escapes plant to cool itself down

Heavy soils (resist infiltration), bare soil, steep slope

Encourage infiltration into soil instead of runoff. Enhance soil surface storage AND/OR add dense vegetation

Mulch, vegetative mulches, strip tilling

enough rainfall year round for crop development

not enough water is subsidized with irrigation

Furrow, flood, center pivot, drip or micro (most sustainable), level basin surface irrigation, subsurface

Excavating channels or ditches that eventually lead into stream or river. Water flows laterally over or through soil into the channel.

Installing perforated plastic pipe to depth of 2-6 ft (drainage tile). Pipes slope toward larger conduits or open ditches that then flow to streams.