Relationship between van Genuchten's parameters of the retention curve equation and physical properties of soil solid phase

TLDR: Van Genuchten parameters α, n, θ s, θ r were determined for 24 Phaeozems and 54 Gleysols samples taken from surface, subsurface and subsoil horizons as discussed by the authors.

Abstract: Van Genuchten parameters α, n, θ s , θ r were determined for 24 Phaeozems and 54 Gleysols samples taken from surface, subsurface and subsoil horizons. No evident dependences between van Genuchten's a, n,θ s ,θ r parameters and the physical properties of Phaeozems soil samples were observed, which was due to a similar genesis and similar properties of soil solid phase. Analysis of Gleysols, on the other hand, revealed dependences between the physical soil properties and van Genuchten's parameters resulting from different geneses of these soils and, hence, different physical properties of soil solid phase. The obtained results should be considered as preliminary and further studies on a larger number ofsoil samples are planned.