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Infiltration capacity is an important variable for understanding and predicting a range of soil processes. This study investigated for different slope positions the effects of forest conversion to cultivation and grazing on soil infiltration capacity. Infiltration capacity was measured in the field in each land use type using a double‐ring infiltrometer. A total of 108 soil samples (3 slope positions × 3 land use types × 4 soil profiles × 3 soil depths) were collected to determine the variables that affect infiltration capacity viz. particle size distribution, organic carbon content, dry bulk density and soil moisture content. The results showed that in the cultivated and grazed land compared with forest, infiltration capacity and soil moisture content were 70 and 45% smaller respectively, and dry bulk density was 13–20% larger. Changes in soil structure caused by surface soil compaction because of tillage and animal trampling coupled with a smaller soil organic carbon content, are likely to be the principal factors causing the decline in infiltration capacity and soil moisture content after conversion of forest to cultivation and grazing.

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