Factors influencing infiltration rates and sediment production were evaluated on representative study areas of four watersheds in New Mexico under various land management practices. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the most important factors influencing infiltration and sediment production. Factors found important were soil texture, soil organic matter, soil bulk density, plant cover, biomass production, time to runoff and time to ponding. Of all variables studied, total ground cover was considered to be the most important single variable influencing infiltration and sediment production.