2025 , Volume 30, № 6, p.20-36

An approach to the formulation of models for soils hysteresis of water retention property within the homogeneous continuous medium concept is proposed. The approach is based on the concept of dividing the pore space of the soil into distinctive components that present together in each small volume and each of that is characterized by its own value of the matrix potential — moisture capacity reservoirs. Water exchange between the reservoirs occurs at a rate depending on their matrix potentials. Formulating the model for the specific case includes choosing the type of dependencies of reservoir moisture contents on matrix potentials and choosing the type of expression for the moisture exchange rate, and the necessary parameters of these dependencies are determined using experimental data. The methodology of the formulation of the model is applied to the cases of white quartz sand and sandy loam. It is shown that the model adapted to experimental material limited in terms of the diversity of conditions in that hysteresis components is efficient in a wider range of conditions. Models of the considered type allows taking into account the presence of hysteresis in the water retention property by convenient means when modeling moisture transfer processes.