Experimental and modelling evidence of short-term effect of raindrop impact on hydraulic conductivity and overland flow intensity

•Raindrop impact enhances soil crusting and therefore runoff generation.•When raindrop impact was reduced, runoff was on average reduced by 70%.•When raindrop impact was reduced, runoff on amended soil was higher than on bare soil.•Soil exposed to successive rainfalls progressively becomes impermeable.•Hydraulic conductivity that exponentially decreases over time correctly models runoff.