Soil temperature
• The main factors influencing soil
temperature,
At the end of • the scientific approach to measure the
effect of these factors that influence soil
temperature,
this section • The effects of soil temperature on
physical, chemical and biological
you should processes that take place in the soil,
• The ways/methods to manipulate soil
know: temperature for better production:
• Cultivation methods and
• Controlled environment
Soil Temperature:
Soil temperature has an influence on the
chemical and physical reactions that takes
place in the soil. ( Higher
temperatures leads to faster
reactions )
Factors affecting the soil
temperature :
➢ Soil Colour
➢ Vegetation
➢ Soil water content
➢ Soil slope
➢ Absorption and loss of
solar energy
➢ Seasonal Changes
➢ Soil depth
3
Soil temperature as
influenced by :
• Soil colour:
• Dark soils absorb more heat than light soils during the day and
light soils loose heat faster. The temperature of dark soils
fluctuate more than light soils
• Vegetation:
• Soils covered with vegetation is cooler because plants protect
the soil from radiated heat from the sun.
• Soil Water content :
• Water has the highest heat capacity in soils, therefore moist
soils heat up slower but also looses heat slower than dry soils
• Seasonal Changes
• Soils are hotter in summer than in winter due to solar
radiation. The variation between day and night temperatures is
also greater during the summer months
Soil temperature as
influenced by :
• Absorption and loss of solar energy :
• The amount of heat absorbed by the soil is determined
by the amount of solar radiation that reaches the soil.
Some radiation is reflected back to the atmosphere,
having no effect on soil temperature. Some radiation is
used by plant for photosynthesis.. Therefore only a small
amount of radiation is absorbed by the soil.
• Soil depth:
• Soil is warmer closer to the surface than
• deeper, but fluctuation of temperature is
• also more varied in
• the topsoil.
Soil temperature
as influenced by :
• Soil slope:
• The angle at which the sunrays strike the soil surface has an important influence on soil
temperatures. In the southern hemisphere the northern slope is always warmer and drier than the
southern slope
Higer temperatures lead to higher chemical,
The effect of soil biological and physical activity in the soil.
Differences between day and night
temperature of temperatures helps with physical(mechanical)
weathering.
chemical, The most chemical reactions in soil acellarates
in the presence of water and heat. This in turn
physical and leads to more chemical weathering and more
inorganic nutrients being available.
biological soil Biological processes are happening faster in
warm temperatures. When temperatures are
processes too low, all biologica activity in the soil slows
down.
• Mulching with straw, will help to keep
temperatures constant.
Manipulating • Artificial coverings like plastic kan help to
minimise temperature fluctuations.
soil • Cultivation practices like deep or shallow
ploughing can be used to increase or
temperature decrease soil temperature.
• a Reflective soil covering, lowers soil
to increase temeperature.
• Some materials will prevent evaporation.
production • Irrigation can also be used to manipulate
soil temperature..
Soil temperature plays an important role in
agriculture. It influences the chemical and
physical reactions taking place in the soil,
i.e:
• Soil formation;
• Metabolic processes in soil organisms
and plants; and
• The activity of micro-organisms in the
soil.
Soil • Seed germination is controlled by soil
temperature temperature;
• Root growth is dependent on soil
is important temperature; and
• Sunlight are being absorbed by the soil
to farmers and then increases the temperature of
minerals and soil water.
because:
Activity: Soil Temperature
1. The graph below shows soil temperature ranges over 60 hours.
1.1 Explain the trend of soil temperature as reflected in the graph above. (2)
1.2 Use a table to present the information given in the graph above. (6)
1.3 Name TWO ways in which the farmer can manipulate temperature
other than the one shown on the graph. (2)
2. Soil temperature has an effect on physical, biological and chemical
processes taking place in soil.
• Indicate whether each of the following process listed below is a
physical, chemical or biological effect of soil temperature:
• 2.1 Faster chemical reactions due to warm temperatures (1)
• 2.2 Micro-organisms are more active at temperatures between 15 °C
to 35 °C (1)
• 2.3 At high temperatures rocks break up to form soil particles (1)
3. The following graph represents soil temperatures taken at different
depth positions in the soil.
3.1. Indicate the depth of soil which has the least difference between
day and night temperatures. (1)
3.2 Describe the differences in soil temperature in a soil at a depth o1
cm and 10 cm. (2)
3.3 Justify the response given in QUESTION 3.2 above. (2)
3.4 Identify THREE factors influencing soil temperature, beside the one
shown in the graph above. (3)
