Rain-Water Penetration in British Somaliland Soils

Abstract

Whilst examine the roots of Acacia socolrana Balf.f. at Ged Dobo in the Guban (Coastal Plain of British Somali land) it was observed that even as long as four days after rain had fallen a clearly visible and well-defined moisture penetration line could be seen on the freshly dug soil profiles, by the fact that the soil above it appeared wetter and darker than that beneath it. This suggested that there might be a relationship between the top cover, the root growth form of plants, and the visible penetration depths of rain-water into the soil. The experiments described below show that the original idea was in general correct, but a striking correlation between denuded ground and depth of moisture penetration is also shown. Since these experiments were undertaken in the process of a survey of the "Devastated Areas of British Somali land the importance of the results in showing the effect of denudation on run-off, and penetration of rain-water could not be overlooked.