The form and pattern of vegetation for any site can be managed to give water the maximum opportunity to penetrate the surface where it falls. This minimizes the over the overland flow that causes erosion. Some moisture is captured in the foliage of trees and shrubs. Healthy vegetative cover with its accompanying root mass can keep soil more permeable so moisture readily percolates into the soil profile for storage. Water often follows abandoned root channels as well as live roots, which may penetrate compacted soil layers or deeper horizons.
Percolation also is aided by activity from burrowing animals, insects, and earthworms.
Storage of Water in Soil Once water permeates into the soil, it's stored between soil particles in the soil profile. Management practices can significantly affect storage capacity on any particular site. However, keep in mind that the amount of moisture soil can hold depends on its depth, texture, and structure. Beyond the field capacity, which is the amount of water a soil holds when saturated, water will either percolate deeply or run off the surface. The kinds and amount of vegetation, and the plant community structure, can greatly affect the storage on any particular site.