Land Judging in Oklahoma, James H. Stiegler, Section II Land Judging in Oklahoma James H. Stiegler, Extension Soils Specialist Department of Plant and Soil Sciences Interpretation of Soil Factors Permeability Permeability refers to the movement of air and water through the soil.
Permeability is affected by many soil characteristics.
It is extremely important because it affects the supply of air, moisture, and soil nutrients in the root zone available to the plant. A soil's permeability is determined by permanent characteristics such as texture, structure, and consistence. It may be increased or decreased and still remain within the range of each permeability rating. Each soil layer has a permeability rating, but the soil's permeability is determined by the relative rate moisture and air move through the most restricting layer within the upper 40 inches of the effective root zone. For contests, the subsoil texture sample in the box will be used to determine the permeability.