Effects of Mulches on Soil Temperature and Growth of Tea Plants in Kenya

1980 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 287-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. O. Othieno ◽  
P. M. Ahn

SUMMARYFive types of mulches (black plastic, stone chippings and three types of grass) and a control were used on young clonal tea plants following transplanting. Soil temperature differences were observed in the first two years but disappeared when the tea canopy had developed to cover over 40% or more of the soil surface. Stem diameter, yield (during the first two years) and total dry matter production were positively correlated with soil temperatures over the range 14–21°C. Beneficial effects of raising soil temperature by black plastic mulch were short-lived, but the detrimental effect of reducing temperature by grass mulches was more severe and long lasting. Grass mulches induced shallow rooting, as a result of which the tea was more susceptible to drought.

1982 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. O. Othieno

SUMMARYDiurnal variations in soil temperature were measured under tea plants with different kinds of mulches. During the early years after planting temperatures differed, depending on the type of mulch and its heat absorptivity. Black plastic and stone chippings showed the greatest diurnal variations, but the variations disappeared in all treatments when there was a ≥ 60% canopy. Tea plants themselves modify soil temperatures, which could affect growth and yield in places where soil temperatures are generally lower.


HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 802A-802
Author(s):  
John Jifon*

Use of plastic mulch to increase rhizosphere temperatures is a common practice in spring production of vegetable crops. However, supraoptimal soil temperatures during the fruit maturation period in early summer can impair root function and reduce produce quality. The effects of colored plastic mulch on rhizosphere temperature and `Primo' muskmelon root respiration were investigated in the field during Fall (Aug.-Nov. 2002) and Spring (Mar.-May 2003) seasons. Rhizosphere temperatures (measured at 0.1 m below the soil surface with thermo-couples) and respiration under four plastic mulches (black, silver, white, and clear), and a bare ground control were studied. The soil warming properties of the different mulches differed between Spring and Fall. Bare ground rhizosphere temperatures declined from ≈33 to 21°C in the Fall and increased from 14 to 26 °C in Spring. In both studies, black and clear plastic mulches had the highest rhizosphere warming effects (3-8 °C) compared to bare ground. In the Fall, average midday soil temperatures under the white and silver mulches were 2-3 °C cooler than the bare ground treatment. Canopy establishment was accelerated by plastic mulches in Spring but not in Fall. Root + soil respiration was positively correlated with measured rhizosphere temperatures (r = 0.69), with the highest respiration rates recorded under the clear and black plastic mulches. More than 80% of fruits from the clear plastic treatment were deformed and unmarketable. The number of marketable fruit was similar among the black, white and silver mulch treatments and significantly greater (32% in Spring & 12% in Fall) than in the bare ground treatments.


1986 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 701-711 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. H. NEILSEN ◽  
E. J. HOGUE ◽  
B. G. DROUGHT

Soil temperature was measured from 1981 to 1985 at 0.2- and 1.0-m depths for four soil management treatments which included full ground cover, total vegetation control, shallow tillage and black plastic mulching in a high-density orchard planted to Bisbee Red Delicious (Malus domestica Borkh.) on Mailing 26 rootstock. Ground cover suppression treatments, especially black plastic mulching, increased degree day accumulations above 10 °C in all 5 yr at 0.2-m and in 3 yr at 1.0-m depths relative to full ground cover. However, these treatments also resulted in more extreme temperature fluctuations as characterized by higher summer maximum and lower winter minimum temperatures under black plastic mulching. Despite a potential for more extreme soil temperatures, apple yield was significantly higher under black plastic relative to full ground cover. For these two contrasting temperature treatments, leaf N and Mg concentrations were usually significantly higher under black plastic while leaf P and K were consistently higher and leaf Ca and Zn were occasionally higher under full ground cover. Most of these differences were, with the possible exception of leaf Zn, attributed to the competition for, or recycling of, nutrients by orchard floor vegetation. Mean monthly soil temperatures at the two depths under the four soil management treatments could be predicted by simple linear regression techniques from soil temperature measurements at the Summerland Research Station Meteorological Recording Site. Key words: Bisbee Delicious apples, degree days, ground cover, suppression, black plastic mulching, leaf nutrition


1928 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. McKenzie Taylor

1. The soil temperatures in Egypt at a number of depths have been recorded by means of continuous recording thermometers. In general, the records show that the amplitude of the temperature wave at the surface of the soil is considerably greater than the air temperature wave. There is, however, a considerable damping of the wave with depth, no daily variation in temperature being observed at a depth of 100 cm.2. No definite relation between the air and soil temperatures could be traced. The maximum air temperature was recorded in May and the maximum soil temperature in July.3. The amplitude of the temperature wave decreases with increase in depth. The decrease in amplitude of the soil temperature wave is not regular owing to variations in the physical properties of the soil layers. Between any two depths, the ratio of the amplitudes of the temperature waves is constant throughout the year. The amplitude of the soil temperature wave bears no relation to the amplitude of the air temperature wave.4. The time of maximum temperature at the soil surface is constant throughout the year at 1 p.m. The times of maximum temperature at depths below the surface lag behind the time of surface maximum, but they are constant throughout the year. When plotted against depth, the times of maximum at the various soil depths lie on a straight line.


2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 209-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Krčmáŕová ◽  
Hana Stredová ◽  
Radovan Pokorný ◽  
Tomáš Stdŕeda

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the course of soil temperature under the winter wheat canopy and to determine relationships between soil temperature, air temperature and partly soil moisture. In addition, the aim was to describe the dependence by means of regression equations usable for phytopathological prediction models, crop development, and yield models. The measurement of soil temperatures was performed at the experimental field station ˇZabˇcice (Europe, the Czech Republic, South Moravia). The soil in the first experimental plot is Gleyic Fluvisol with 49-58% of the content particles measuring < 0.01 mm, in the second experimental plot, the soil is Haplic Chernozem with 31-32% of the content particles measuring < 0.01 mm. The course of soil temperature and its specifics were determined under winter wheat canopy during the main growth season in the course of three years. Automatic soil temperature sensors were positioned at three depths (0.05, 0.10 and 0.20 m under soil surface), air temperature sensor in 0.05 m above soil surface. Results of the correlation analysis showed that the best interrelationships between these two variables were achieved after a 3-hour delay for the soil temperature at 0.05 m, 5-hour delay for 0.10 m, and 8-hour delay for 0.20 m. After the time correction, the determination coefficient reached values from 0.75 to 0.89 for the depth of 0.05 m, 0.61 to 0.82 for the depth of 0.10 m, and 0.33 to 0.70 for the depth of 0.20 m. When using multiple regression with quadratic spacing (modeling hourly soil temperature based on the hourly near surface air temperature and hourly soil moisture in the 0.10-0.40 m profile), the difference between the measured and the model soil temperatures at 0.05 m was −2.16 to 2.37 ◦ C. The regression equation paired with alternative agrometeorological instruments enables relatively accurate modeling of soil temperatures (R2 = 0.93).


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Maurício Dominguez Nasser ◽  
Estefânia Martins Bardiviesso ◽  
Ariel Santivañez Aguilar ◽  
Augusto Zonta

Plants can tolerate a wide range of soil temperature variations, but their development is affected when the soil undergoes higher or lower temperatures of certain extreme values. The aim of this study was to assess the soil temperature of two regions of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Daily measurements of soil temperature were taken at two weather stations, one in the municipality of Adamantina (soil classified as Podzolic, Dark Red Latosol, Eutrophic, moderate A, of sandy/medium texture) and another in the municipality Monte Alegre do Sul (soil classified as Red Yellow Podzolic, of fine sandy-clayey texture) within a period of 365 days. The experimental design was completely randomized, with the two municipalities being the treatments, and 12 repetitions determined by monthly averages. The soil temperature at a 3-cm depth in Adamantina reached values above 40°C, values not observed in Monte Alegre do Sul. At a 12-cm depth, there were no differences between the municipalities. In Monte Alegre do Sul, the recorded soil temperatures proved suitable for crops, with better use of organic matter by the soil and greater stability of surface temperature throughout the day compared to Adamantina. In Adamantina, however, the use of agronomic technology is required to ensure greater stability of surface temperature. The temperature throughout the year in the soil surface layer in the Adamantina region in the afternoon was higher than in the Monte Alegre do Sul region, a fact that implies the need of differentiated agronomic technology depending on the cultivation location.


HortScience ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 720-726 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlin E. Splawski ◽  
Emilie E. Regnier ◽  
S. Kent Harrison ◽  
Mark A. Bennett ◽  
James D. Metzger

Field studies were conducted in 2011 and 2012 to compare mulch treatments of shredded newspaper, a combination of shredded newspaper plus turfgrass clippings (NP + grass), hardwood bark chips, black polyethylene plastic, and bare soil on weeds, insects, soil moisture, and soil temperature in pumpkins. Newspaper mulch or black plastic reduced total weed biomass ≥90%, and woodchip or NP + grass mulch each reduced total weed biomass 78% compared with bare soil under high rainfall conditions in 2011. In 2012, under low rainfall, all mulches reduced weed biomass 97% or more compared with bare soil. In both years, all mulches resulted in higher squash bug infestations than bare soil. The woodchip, newspaper, and NP + grass mulches retained higher soil moistures than bare soil or black plastic over the course of each growing season, and the woodchip and NP + grass mulches caused greatest fluctuations in soil temperature. Pumpkin yields were abnormally low in 2011 and did not differ among treatments. In 2012, all mulches produced greater total marketable pumpkin fruit weights compared with bare soil, but only black plastic, newspaper, and NP + grass mulches resulted in greater total numbers of marketable pumpkins. Overall results indicate that shredded newspaper or NP + grass mulches may be useful for organic and/or small-scale urban crop producers as sustainable alternatives to black plastic mulch; however, their weed suppression efficacy may require higher application rates with increasing moisture conditions, and they may require greater squash bug control measures than under bare soil conditions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 149-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
O M Fediuk ◽  
N O Bilyavska ◽  
E K Zolotareva

In the natural conditions early-spring period development of Galanthus nivalis L., the leaves germination from bulbs was carried out in the soil surface layer, mainly, covered with snow, so the leaves were exposed to low soil temperatures. It was found, that at the leaf germination stage, when exposed to minus soil temperature, the mitochondria were predominantly elongated, that is, functionally active. Under the influence of positive temperature, the mitochondria form changed to a round one, which indicates their transition to low functional activity. A similar tendency was manifested even during the budding stage, in particular, when the soil temperature was lowered to an average of –3.47 °C, the mitochondria changed their form to an elongated one, that is, they passed into an active functional state. Wherein, the temperature of the leaves was higher by 3.84 °C compared to the soil. At the stages of germination and budding of G. nivalis under natural conditions, a direct correlation was found between the soil surface layer temperature and the leaves temperature, and at the flowering stage this relation was reverse. During the flowering stage, despite the influence of predominantly positive soil temperatures, leaves growth was significantly slowed, and their temperature was only slightly higher by 0.38 °C compared to the soil. At the same time, the mitochondria changed their shape to a round one. Thus, the increase in their long axis at different stages in spring development, are aimed at adapting to influence low temperatures of the soil surface layer.


2004 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 131 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. Latham ◽  
R. A .C. Jones

In 5 field experiments on land infested with lettuce big-vein disease (LBVD) at different locations, the incidence of LBVD in partially resistant lettuce breeding line LE169 was always diminished significantly compared with its incidences in susceptible crisphead lettuce genotypes. Also, the fresh weight yield of LE169 was always significantly greater than those of more susceptible genotypes. When different genotypes were grown on virgin land where infested introduced lettuce seedlings were the only source of the disease, LBVD incidence was again significantly diminished and yield significantly greater with LE169. When black plastic mulch was spread on the surface of LBVD-infested soil and LE169 was deployed along with more susceptible lettuce genotypes, presence of mulch and partial resistance both diminished LBVD incidence significantly on their own, but combining the two suppressed spread the most. The mulch diminished soil moisture and increased soil temperature, one or both of which decreased activity of the viruliferous zoospores of its Olpidium brassicae vector, resulting in less virus transmission to lettuce roots.


FLORESTA ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leocadio Grodzki ◽  
Ronaldo Viana Soares ◽  
Antonio Carlos Batista ◽  
Paulo Henrique Caramori

O sistema agroflorestal da bracatinga utiliza queima após o corte e retirada da madeira, dando lugar à semeadura de espécies agrícolas. A queima controlada altera a temperatura do ar e do solo. A mudança de refletividade da superfície é mais rápida que dos reflorestamentos próximos. A transformação das folhas e galhos secos em cinza após a queima, faz com que haja mudanças do albedo, alterando o balanço energético. Os resultados mostram temperaturas do ar de 600ºC por 20-40 segundos a 1 cm do solo e de 100 a 300°C a 60 e 160cm do solo, respectivamente, durante 1 minuto. Temperaturas de 100ºC ao nível do solo residiram por mais de 3 minutos. A temperatura do solo não foi afetada a 2,5cm de profundidade. Durante a queima, a temperatura se elevou em 1ºC. O albedo de 0,24 antes da queima, passou para 0,21 logo após a queima. Após 60 dias, o albedo voltou a 0,24 devido a recomposição da vegetação. FIRE EFECTS ON SOME MICROMETEOROLOGICAL VARIABLES IN A BRACATINGA (Mimosa scabrella, Benth.) FOREST, COLOMBO, PR Abstract The bracatinga agriculture-forest systems adopted by farmers consists on burning the residues after wood’s harvesting prior to sowing the crops. This procedure is repeated each 6 to 8 years in the same area. The prescribed burning changes air and soil temperatures. Changes in reflectivity are faster then in the surrounding forest areas. Transforming leaves and branches into ashes after burning changes the albedo of the surface, altering the energetic balance. Results showed air temperatures of 600°C during 20 to 40 seconds, 1cm above the soil surface, and 100 to 300°C at 60 and 160cm above the soil surface, during 1 minute. Temperatures over 100°C on the soil surface were observed for more than 3 minutes. Soil temperature was not affected at 2.5cm depth; during burning, the temperature raised only 1ºC. The surface albedo that was 0,24 before the burning changed to 0,21 after burning and returned to 0.24 sixty days after the burning due to the vegetation regeneration.


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