A good quality artificial sod is quite thick, with just enough porous space between the fibers to allow water to soak through. This is good because it prevents weeds from sprouting through the mats, breaks up rainfall, and forces water to slowly absorb into the soil or cascade if the ground is saturated. This requires extra engineering on a slope but is one way to deal with dry soil especially.

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The point of artificial turf is that it completely covers the ground. Sunlight cannot get through, so weed seeds cannot even really hope to sprout, and those that do would struggle to get through the polymer sod material. This turf protects the soil from evaporation, which could be a key feature in a climate or microclimate where the soil is prone to excessive drying. Natural grass does a good job of keeping the soil cool, but turf does this in addition to significantly slowing evaporation. Installing synthetic grass is an investment that will save you money.

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Imagine having a tree in a site that does not see enough rainfall to feed the species of tree adequately. This is especially a problem with fruit trees that would otherwise grow with a little more moisture in the soil. One option is to run irrigation hoses; another is to use artificial turf as a type of mulch, and it is excellent because it might do a better job than grass.