Certain concepts regarding the simultaneous transport of surface ‐salts and water under transient unsaturated flow conditions vere verified for three soils using laboratory soil columns. Treatments included different water application rates (i.e., continuous ponding and controlled rates) and different initial soil water contents. Calcium chloride, spread on the soil surface to simulate a salt‐affected soil or broadcasting of a fertilizer (or other additive), was leached with chloride free water (0.01 N CaSO4). Salt and water profiles were determined by destructive sampling at 2 cm depth intervals at two stages: (i) immediately following infiltration and (ii) after Batching infiltration plus redistribution time.