ABSTRACT The interactive influence of furrow surface seal formation and surge irrigation (intermittent flow) on furrow infiltration into a Portneuf silt loam soil was measured with a recirculating infiltrometer. When the formation of a surface seal was prevented by a layer of cheesecloth laid on the furrow perimeter, flow interruption increased furrow bed bulk density by 100 kg/m^ and decreased infiltration by 25% compared to constant flow. However, on this highly erodible soil, the surface seal which formed on an unprotected perimeter during irrigation reduced infiltration rates by over 50% compared to furrows with a cheesecloth layer. Flow interruption did not increase soil consolidation or decrease infiltration when the normal seal was allowed to form. On the tested soil, surface sealing overshadows the effects of flow interruption on infiltration.