Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #114907
Title: EFFECT OF SHADING, IRRIGATION AND PLASTIC MULCH ON SOIL TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION

Author
item ZEKRI, M - UNIV OF FL
item FARES, A - SENTEK
item Alva, Ashok
item PARSONS, L - UNIV OF FLA
item KIZZA, P - UNIV OF FLA

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2000
Publication Date: 11/1/2000
Citation: ZEKRI, M., FARES, A., ALVA, A.K., PARSONS, L.R., KIZZA, P.N. EFFECT OF SHADING, IRRIGATION AND PLASTIC MULCH ON SOIL TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION. AGRONOMY ABSTRACTS, P. 214. 2000.

Interpretive Summary: Soil temperature influences the soil physical, chemical, and microbiological processes. The cultural practices adapted as a part of routine agricultural practices will influence the soil temperature and in turn the soil processes. In this study, the effect of clear plastic cover and soil water content by irrigation on soil temperature was evaluated in a aCandler fine sandy soil without the vegetative cover as well as under the canopy of citrus trees. Thermocouples were installed at 10, 20, 40, 70 and 110 cm depths. Soil moisture control at this depth was also measured by capacitance probes. Plastic cover increased the soil temperature as compared to that under the tree canopy. The temperature difference decreased with soil depth. Soil temperature was lower in moist soil as compared to that in dry soil, as a result of effects of soil moisture.

Technical Abstract: Soil temperature has profound influence on plant growth, and can affect several soil microbial, physical and chemical processes. The objectives of this tudy were to determine the effect of shading (under tree canopy vs. open space), irrigation (water content level) and Mulch (clear plastic) on temperature of a Candler fine sand soil (>95% sand) in Central Florida. Soil temperatures were monitored every 5 min at two locations: under citru tree canopy (Hamlin orange on Swingle citrumelo rootstock) and open space using thermocouples at 0, .1, .2, .4, .7, and 1.1 m depth. Water contents were simultaneously recorded at the same depths and time frequency using EnviroSCAN sensors. Clear plastic mulch increased soil profile temperature as much as 25 oC at the soil surface, compared to that under tree canopy. However, temperature difference decreased with soil depth and was only 2 to 3 oC at 1.1 m depth. Irrigation tends to lower soil temperature as a result of the high water heat capacity as compared to minerals of soils. Effect of plastic mulch varied with total net radiation; thus, there was no significant difference between soil surface temperature under plastic mulch, in open space, and under citrus tree canopy.