Evaluation of Soil Temperature Moderating and Moisture Conserving Effects of Various Mulches during a Growing Season

Abstract

The seven mulches investigated affected soil temperature throughout the season compared with bare soil. The degree of temperature moderation varied depending on whether the temperature trend was increasing, relatively constant or decreasing. The organic mulches, wood chips and silage, as well as spun polypropylene covered with wood chips kept the soil temperature cooler compared with bare soil until middle of August. During periods of soil warming, spun polypropylene and paper reduced soil temperature. Soil under black plastic had a higher mean temperature than bare soil throughout the season. Degradable plastic increased soil temperature, but only to a small extent. The organic mulches conserved more moisture than any other of the materials evaluated, although during July soil moisture contents were significantly higher under all mulches compared with bare soil.