What is cycle-and-soak scheduling and why is it used?

• A. Scheduling irrigation only during night hours.
• B. Using only drip irrigation without scheduling adjustments.
• C. Irrigating in multiple shorter cycles with breaks to allow water to infiltrate soil and reduce runoff on heavy soils.
• D. Running irrigation continuously for long periods to saturate soil.

Answer: (C)

Cycle-and-soak scheduling is applying water in a series of short irrigation cycles with rest periods in between so the soil can absorb what’s been applied before more is added. This method matches the irrigation to the soil’s infiltration rate, especially on heavy soils that absorb water slowly. By letting water infiltrate between cycles, you reduce surface runoff and erosion, prevent ponding, and promote more uniform wetting of the root zone. It also helps moisture move deeper into the soil rather than just piling up on the surface, which improves overall water efficiency.

Other approaches don’t address how the soil actually takes in water. Irrigating only at night doesn’t fix infiltration issues, using drip irrigation without scheduling adjustments ignores the soil’s absorption rate, and running water continuously to saturate the soil often leads to runoff and wasted water. Cycle-and-soak specifically uses bursts with soak periods to fit the soil’s capacity to absorb water.