Reviewing classical studies in soil physics “A new model for predicting the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated porous media” By Y. Mualem Water Resources Research, Vol.12, No. 3, 513-522 (1976) and “A closed-form equation for predicting the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soils” By M. Th. van Genuchten Soil Science Society of America Journal, Vol.44, No. 5, 892-898 (1980)