Abstract
Variations in soil temperature at depths have been investigated in different parts of Southern Nigeria. Measurements were carried out at different lithologies and at different times with the aid of a soil thermometer over a three-week period. Readings were taken in three major lithologies which include clay, sand and sandy loam. The daily soil temperature for clayey soil ranges from 27.7℃ - 28.9℃ with a simple mean of 28.3℃; 28.2℃- 29.1℃ for sandy soil and 28.3℃ - 29.0℃ for loamy soil. The mean temperature for all soil types is 28.7℃, indicating that these soils are favourable for farming. A feature of the results is that soil temperature varies more randomly in the sandy soil than the other soil types. The results can be valuable in planning and developing soil tillage practices and other agricultural activities in the areas studied.
Highlights
Soil temperatures vary both diurnally and seasonally, the former variation fading out within a few 10s of cm and the latter at greater depths
This study investigates how the heat radiated by the sun is distributed at different local soil depths
The variation of soil temperature with depth at the various locations are shown in figures 2-4 while the average of the mean data for the various sediments are represented on Tables 1 -3
Summary
Soil temperatures vary both diurnally and seasonally, the former variation fading out within a few 10s of cm and the latter at greater depths. Temperature is usually transmitted down through the earth at a rate dependent on thermal diffusivity of rocks within the soil. The transfer of heat in the soil at different thermal properties, coupled with radiations and latent heat exchanges at the surface are the primary cause of variations in soil temperature[1],[2]. At depths below about 15 m, temperatures are affected by the small amount of heat conducted upwards from the sub-surface. This creates an increase in temperature with depths which varies with the nature of the rocks and their thermal properties
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