Certified Crop Advisor Practice Exam

Water moving horizontally in a field is called ______________.

1. surface flow

2. lateral flow

3. subsurface flow

4. groundwater flow

The correct answer is: lateral flow

The term that describes water moving horizontally in a field is lateral flow. This process often occurs in the upper layers of soil where water is moved laterally due to gravity, typically in response to saturation conditions, and plays a crucial role in the movement of nutrients and moisture across the landscape. Lateral flow is particularly significant in areas with varying soil types and topography, allowing water to travel laterally to other parts of the field rather than percolating straight down. This movement can affect plant growth and soil moisture levels. Understanding lateral flow is essential for effective water management practices in agriculture, as it helps in predicting how water and nutrients will behave in your field. This information can be crucial for making irrigation decisions and designing drainage systems.