Cycle and soak scheduling is primarily used to:

• A. Increase the total water depth per cycle
• B. Reduce runoff and allow infiltration by letting soil soak between short cycles
• C. Evapotranspire more quickly
• D. Shorten the irrigation season

Answer: (B)

Cycle and soak scheduling focuses on infiltration efficiency. By applying water in a series of short cycles with brief soak periods between them, the soil has time to absorb each pulse instead of letting water run off or pond on the surface. This reduces runoff and promotes more uniform moisture in the root zone, especially on soils with slower infiltration or on sloped sites. It doesn’t change how quickly plants transpire or shorten the irrigation season; those are determined by plant demand and overall scheduling, while cycle and soak mainly improves how water enters the soil.