Soil Temparature

• Soil temperature


  It plays an important role in many processes taking place in the soil
• Processes influenced by soil temperature

  1. Chemical reactions

  2. Biological reactions
• Soil temperature


  Determined by heat exchange between the soil and the atmosphere (heat is transmitted down to the soil through conduction)
• Soil colour


  • Dark coloured soil absorb much heat
  • Light coloured soil reflects heat
• Amount of water in soil


  Wet soil takes time to heat up than dry soil
• Vegetation


  • Soil with dense vegetation is cooler than soil with sparse vegetation (vegetation shade the soil from sunlight)
• Slope aspect


  • North facing slope is much warmer than south facing slope (in the shadow)
• Season


  • Soil will be warmer in summer and cooler in winter
• Distance from the equator

  • Soil closer to the equator is warm and soil away from the equator permanently frozen because is cold
• High soil temperature


  Greater microbial activities in the soil
• High soil temperature


  Stimulate seed germination
• High soil temperature


  Stimulate root development
• High soil temperature


  Speed up chemical reactions in the soil
• Day and night temperature

  Help promote physical weathering of rocks
• Ways to manipulate soil temperature for better production

  1. Mulching (Covering soil with straws to insulate it)

  2. Irrigation (It helps reduce the soil temperature as water in the surface evaporates, energy is used and temperature drops)

  3. Add organic matter