Some studies on hydrothermal regime and daytime heat fluxes in a desert sandy soil with and without vegetation

Abstract

The results of the studies conducted during 1977–78 show higher moisture regime of a bare sandy soil of Jodhpur than the soil with vegetative cover. Mean maximum temperature of a bare soil at 5 cm depth, in general, was 1 to 2°C higher than the soil with vegetative cover except during July when there was considerable fall in temperature of a bare soil. Daytime soil temperatures at 5 cm depth during summer were higher than the lower depths leading thereby to downward movement of heat. In winter, however, the temperatures of lower layers were higher facilitating the upward flow of heat and the vapour flux. A high variability in heat fluxes with generally positive daytime heat fluxes in summer and negative in winter were observed.