Infiltration rate of soil around drinking troughs in the Kruger National Park, South Africa

Abstract

Soil particle size distribution and infiltration of water into the soil were measured in transects radiating from drinking troughs in the Kruger National Park. Soil particle size distribution remained relatively constant along the transects, making it unlikely that any gradients in the infiltration rate were the result of variation in the soil particle size distribution. Concentration of large herbivores around the troughs was indeed causing a negative impact on the infiltration rate of the soils, with implications for the rate of soil loss and the soil moisture regime.