The factor that affects the amount of runoff that occurs in an area is land use.
Land use influences the amount of impervious surfaces (like roads and buildings), vegetation cover, and soil type, all of which can affect the rate at which water is absorbed into the ground versus running off into waterways. For example, urban areas with more pavement tend to have higher runoff compared to areas with natural vegetation.
While the water table and saturation zone can affect groundwater dynamics, they are not as directly related to surface runoff as land use is. The amount of nutrients in the soil does not have a significant impact on runoff either.
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