Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Infiltration is the process of water entering the soil through the surface.
The infiltration rate changes over time, starting high and gradually decreasing until it reaches a constant, steady-state rate.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- Initial Infiltration: Driven by capillary forces and controlled by surface conditions, such as crusting, compaction, and slope.
- Steady-State Infiltration: As the soil profile becomes saturated, the matrix suction gradient approaches zero, and gravity becomes the primary driving force.
At this stage, the water movement rate is limited by the saturated hydraulic conductivity ($K_{\text{sat}}$) of the least permeable horizon in the soil profile.
Therefore, steady-state infiltration is controlled by the soil profile rather than the surface.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The steady-state soil infiltration rate is soil profile controlled.