The possibility to link model parameters with soil properties is obstructed if identification problems in inverse modeling of time domain reflectometry (TDR) waveforms occur. Therefore multiple objective functions, each associated with one model parameter, are sought for identification of probe (resistance and length) and Debye (static permittivity, high-frequency permittivity, relaxation frequency, and bulk electrical conductivity) parameters in TDR waveforms. An objective function could be defined for all six modle parameters. Some of the defined objective functions correspond with theoretical and experimental observations of earlier work. Other new insights have been obtained. For instance, it is possible to obtain estimates of high-frequency permittivity even when the reflection of the end of the probe has vanished because of high salinity. Application of the found objective functions on measured TDR waveforms yielded parameter values that compared well with values obtained from several references. However, identification of a parameter is only possible if its true value lies within the frequency bandwidth of TDR. ¿ 2001 American Geophysical Union