Unsaturated Hydraulic Conductivity

Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity is a measure of how easily water moves through soil when the soil isn’t fully soaked. It depends on how many pores or spaces in the soil are filled with air versus water. When the soil is drier, water moves more slowly because there’s less continuous wet pathway. As the soil becomes wetter, water flows more readily. This concept is important for understanding how water infiltrates, drains, or is available for plants, and it varies depending on soil type and moisture level. Essentially, it describes the soil’s capacity to transmit water when it’s not completely saturated.