Abstract:The present paper deals with a matrix equation for one,dimensional flow through unsaturated soil derived from the finite element method and a BASIC Program which has been applied to solve the problem of lateral seepage in soil in a DJ-130 computer.Better agreement is observed between the results obtained from the equation and the data from exPeriment as well as Philip's analytieal and quasi-analytieal solution,and the program is Proved applieable.With the aid of this progrem,the rate of lateral seepage,the relationship between wetting front and time,the vertieal infiltration upward from ground-water table and that downward from wetted soil surfaoe are computed and discussed preliminarily.