Puddling can be defined as the process of breaking down soil aggregates into uniform mud, accomplished by applying mechanical force to the soil at high moisture content.
The steps involved in the process of puddling helps to reduce percolation loss and permeability are:
1. saturating and flooding the soil;
2. plowing the supersaturated soil;
3. plowing or harrowing at progressively lower water contents
When the soil moisture content increases, soil aggregates swell, soften, and weaken.
Cohesion between aggregates increases, reaches a peak at field capacity, and decreases.
When such a soil is plowed or harrowed the aggregates are destroyed.
