Which property of soil allows water to percolate throughout its layers?

The property of soil that allows water to percolate throughout its layers is permeability. Permeability refers to the ability of soil to transmit fluids, particularly water, through its pore spaces. This property is crucial for understanding how water moves through soils, impacting drainage, irrigation, and groundwater recharge.

In soils with high permeability, such as sandy soils, water can move quickly through the soil layers, facilitating drainage and preventing waterlogging. Conversely, soils with low permeability, like clay, retain water because the smaller pore spaces hinder the movement of water, leading to slower percolation rates.

The other properties mentioned play different roles in soil-water interactions. Conductivity is related but specifically refers to the ease with which water flows through soil, influenced by permeability. Moisture content indicates the amount of water present in the soil but does not directly affect percolation. Saturation refers to the degree to which the soil's pores are filled with water, which can influence percolation behavior but does not define the soil's ability to allow water to pass through its layers.