Short project description

Hysteresis refers to the difference in water content observed between the wetting and drying branches of the soil water retention curve. Previously, it was commonly assumed that hysteresis was negligible in the dry region of this curve. However, recent experimental evidence challenges this assumption, revealing significant hysteresis in this region. This discovery underscores the importance of considering hysteresis in accurate modeling of water vapor flow, particularly in arid regions or during dry spells in summer, for precise quantification of soil evaporation and accurate estimation of soil properties based on water content measurements.

Moreover, the mechanisms responsible for this hysteresis remain unclear. We also recognize that soil properties such as texture and organic matter content may influence hysteresis. Therefore, this project aims to measure, model, and quantify sorption hysteresis for different soil types while elucidating the role of organic matter in various soil types.