Spring Soil Temperatures Research Articles

Opportunities and Challenges for the Inclusion of Soil-improving Crops in Vegetable Production Systems

The ability of certain crops to improve soil fertility or physical conditions has long been recognized. As early as the Chow dynasty (1134-247 B.C.) in China, there were reports of crops whose value for soil improvement was “greater than silkworm excrement” (Pieters, 1927). Romans around the time of Christ likewise waxed eloquently on the value of green manures, as in this line from Virgil: “Sow your wheat on land where grew the bean, the slender vetch or the fragile stalks of the bitter lupine.” The potential benefits of soil-improving crops (SIC-s) are many and varied. In addition to the continued use of legumes as a source of biologically fixed N, in more recent years, SICs have been commonly included in cropping systems to retard soil erosion and build up organic matter. In addition to these objectives, a 1988 survey of New England farmers using cover crops revealed that nearly half expected to derive some weed control from the SIC (Schonbeck, 1988). Fewer used SIC to conserve nutrients or make certain elements (such as P) more available, or to control insects and pests. Growers with soil compaction problems may grow a deeprooted SIC to break up dense soil layers (Foulds, 1989). No single SIC can impart all the above benefits to a particular cropping system. In addition, there are some potential negative effects of SICs, including: depletion of soil moisture, lowering of spring soil temperatures, disruption of field operations, allelopathy, and the creation of habitat for harmful organisms. Even nitrate pollution of groundwater is a potential problem with the improper management of legumes in cropping systems. The realized value of the SIC to a particular cropping system will, of course, depend on the selection of species, management of those species, and interaction with the rest of the cropping system, including crops, weather, weed

Nitrate losses in soils: Effect of temperature, moisture and substrate concentration

Our objectives were to determine the effect of temperature on relative rates of NO − 3-N losses in three north-central Alberta soils and to compare them with published results from warmer climates; to determine if the effect of NO − 3-N concentration on rates of NO − 3-N losses in un-perfused soil could be represented by a Michaelis-Menten (rectangular hyperbola) expression and if so, calculate constants; and to determine the effect of soil moisture potential on NO − 3-N loss in these soils. The rate of NO − 3-N loss increased rapidly upward from − 4°C, with the greatest response between 4 and 10°C. The rate of NO − 3-N loss continued to increase to 40°C but raising the temperature to 60°C brought a decrease in two out of the three soils studied. It appears that soil denitrifiers adapted to soil climate. The optimum temperature of <60°C for N 3-N loss in soils in the present study was lower than in soils from warmer areas. The rate of loss of NO − 3-N increased with increasing concentration of NO − 3-N from 50 to 500mgkg − 3. The NO − 3-N losses in these soils appeared to follow a Michaelis-Menten expression with calculated maximum velocities ( V m) of 36.6–42.2 mg NO − 3-N disappeared kg −1soil day −. Half saturation ( K n) values were calculated as 117.1–137.9mgNO − 3-N kg − soil. The V m appeared to increase slightly with increasing clay and organic C content. The NO − 3-N loss was most rapid under flooded conditions, but measurable NO − 3-N appeared to be lost even at −1500 kPa soil moisture potential. The NOv-N loss was greater in a fine-textured soil high in organic C (5.8%) than coase-textured soil low in organic C (1.1%). These results suggest that soil moisture and temperature in early spring after snow melt in north-central Alberta may be high enough to result in substantial NO − 3-N losses in early spring.

7. The use of perennial herbaceous barriers for water conservation and the protection of soils and crops

A system of tall wheatgrass ( Agropyron elongatum L.) barriers, which consisted of single or double rows of grass spaced at about 15-m intervals, protected the soil from wind erosion and conserved water for crop production. Windspeed at a height of 0.3 m above the soil surface was reduced over the interval as a whole by about 45% by the grass barrier system, and potential wind erosion was reduced by 93.4% on an entire-year basis relative to open-filed unprotected areas. The microclimate effects of the barriers relative to open-field environments include (1) increased soil temperature in early spring, (2) decreased soil temperature in June due to greater crop canopy, (3) reduced soil drying rate of 0–100 mm soil depth following rainfall and (4) increased winter wheat dry matter production, leaf area index and grain yields as a result of improved temperature-soil-water relationships. The grass barrier system is an effective snow management tool which increased the probability of successful recropping with winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) from 55 to 78% with N fertilization over an 18-year period when 63 mm, or more, of the overwinter precipitation was stored in the soil. With N fertilization, winter wheat yields in the spring wheat-winter wheat-fallow rotation were ⩾ 1360 kg ha −1 in 15 of 18 years or 83% of the time.

ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF TAGASASTE

Tagasaste was successfully established from spring sown seed, drilled into cultivated ground and into herbicide treated pasture (55% and 40% of viable seed established respectively after 12 weeks) when spring soil temperatures reached about 13°C (at 10 cm). Seed drilled into short pasture suffered from plant competition and seed broadcast onto herbicide-treated and short pastures failed to establish (each

Estimating Corn Growth, Yield, and Grain Moisture from Air Growing Degree Days and Residue Cover1

AbstractLow spring soil temperatures commonly restrict the early growth of corn (Zea mays L.) in the northern Corn Belt. A quantitative assessment of the effects of tillage and residue management practices on soil temperature would improve tillage recommendations in this region. The effect of tillage and surface residue cover on seedbed soil temperatures and subsequent corn growth were studied at four sites in the northern Corn Belt that differed widely in soil characteristics including drainage, texture, slope, and organic matter content. Tillage systems included no‐tillage, chisel plow, moldboard plow, paraplow, ridge plant, and wheeltrack plant. A wide range of surface residue cover was imposed on each system at three sites. Corn emergence and leaf number to the six‐leaf stage were closely related to percent in‐row cover and air temperature growing degree days (air GDD) through their mutual relationship to soil temperature growing degree days (soil GDD) at all sites. For a given site and year, percent in‐row cover following planting was the major factor affecting corn growth rate until the six‐leaf stage. Corn planted under high percent residue cover required more time and consequently more air GDD to reach the six‐leaf stage. This added time represents a growth delay that can be expressed as the additional air GDD required to reach the six‐leaf stage. Such delays were related to increased grain moisture and decreased corn grain yield when net cumulative air GDD were less than the threshold value of 1319 and water stress was minimal. In‐row residue cover due to tillage and previous crop can have a major impact on the growth and development of corn in the northern Corn Belt. These factors should be considered in selecting tillage systems in this region.

Conservation tillage effects on soil properties and yield of corn and soya beans in Indiana

Long-term studies have been conducted on 7 soils throughout the state of Indiana, to determined the effectiveness of a range of tillage systems in producing high crop yields while reducing erosion and improving soil physical properties. The soil studied included one sandy loam, one loam, three silt loams and two silty clay loams with a range of organic matter contents and slope and drainage classes. Tillage systems studied included conventional moldboard plow, chisel plow, disking, ridge till-plant and no-till. Conservation tillage systems resulted in higher soil water contents, lower soil temperatures, more organic matter and more water-stable aggregates near the surface, and higher bulk densities than conventional tillage systems. On sloping, well-drained, low organic matter soils, conservation tillage produced corn ( Zea mays L.) yields that were equal or better than yields from conventional tillage. On poorly-drained, low organic matter, poorly structured soils, the soil structure under conservation tillage tended to improve with time as soil organic matter and aggregation increased. Corn and soya bean ( Glycine max) yields have also improved with time and often exceed those from conventionally tilled soils. On poorly drained soils high in organic matter that were cropped to continuous corn, conservation tillage generally yielded less than conventional systems due to low soil temperature and excess wetness in spring. Significant interactions of tillage systems and crop rotation existed on the two poorly-drained soils on which rotation was an experimental variable.

Will Drainage Increase Spring Soil Temperatures in Cool and Humid Climates?

ABSTRACT IT is generally assumed that installing agricultural drainage systems will increase the soil temperature faster in spring. Historically this information is based on an experiment where a wet muck soil heats up slower than a dry mineral soil. A theoretical examination for non-seepage areas found the soil type and not the degree of wetness to be responsible for temperature differences.

Effect of Three Conservation Tillage Practices on Soil Temperature and Thermal Properties

AbstractThree conservation tillage systems, chisel (CH), till‐plant (TP), and no‐till (NT), were compared to conventional (moldboard) tillage (CN) for differences in depth zone (5 cm) and upper profile (5–15 cm) soil temperatures and related soil thermal properties. In‐row spring soil temperatures were highest in CN, slightly lower in TP and CH, and lowest in NT. The maximum difference in daily average temperature observed between tillage treatments occurred on 2 May 1982 when the NT, CH, and TP treatments were 5.9, 2.3, and 1.8°C cooler than CN, respectively. Soil thermal diffusivity (K') in the 5‐ to 15‐cm zone was 20 to 25% higher in the NT treatment than in the CN and CH treatments, which were not significantly different. In 1 of 2 yr, K' was significantly higher in the TP treatment than in the CN and CH treatments. The reduction in soil temperatures observed with conservation tillage was attributed to differences in thermal admittance (µ), heat flux to deeper depth, and total heat inputs to the soil profile. The higher thermal admittance and heat flux in the NT treatment produced lower upper profile soil temperature.

The effect of mole drainage on soil temperatures under pasture

SUMMARYDrainage is often claimed to increase soil temperatures in early spring by decreasing the soil's heat capacity. Measurements of water table depth, soil water content and soil temperature were made during winter and spring on mole‐pipe drained and undrained plots of a silt loam soil under pasture. Despite differences in water table depth and soil water content, drainage had no observable effect on soil temperature.Laboratory measurements of the thermal properties of soil cores at a matric potential of −4kPa and then at saturation showed the volumetric heat capacity increased from 3.1 to 3.3 MJ m−3 K−1, with a proportional increase in the thermal conductivity from 1.1 to 1.2 W m−1 K−1. The thermal diffusivity remained unchanged. These values were used in a numerical simulation of the effects of drainage on the seasonal and diurnal oscillations in soil temperature. It is argued that the soil heat flux under pasture in spring is unaffected by drainage. The predicted temperature differences due to drainage are of the order of 0.2°C. As differences of this magnitude were observed between replicate thermometers in the field, it follows from the calculations above that any differences in soil temperature due to drainage would be too small to detect.

Reduced Seedbed Tillage Effects on Irrigated Sugarbeet Yield and Quality1

AbstractField studies were conducted from 1979 through 1982 on a furrow irrigated silty clay loam soil (Typic Argiboroll) to determine if sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) sucrose production levels could be maintained with reduced seedbed tillage. Tillage treatments were: a) conventional tillage (CT)—complete fall incorporation of surface residues; b) strip tillage (ST)—fall incorporation of surface residues in 18‐cm wide bands located 56 or 61 cm apart; and c) no‐tillage (NT)—no incorporation of surface residues. Herbicides were fall applied for weed control. Sugarbeets were seeded 10 or 15 cm apart to eliminate need for thinning. Sugarbeet stands before cultivation averaged 3.7 sugarbeets/meter of row over the 4‐year period. Tillage treatment had no significant effect on spring soil temperatures and on sugarbeet stand, root yield, sucrose content, gross sucrose yield, and recoverable sucrose yield when averaged over the 4‐year period. Sugarbeet quality, in terms of clear juice purity, tended to be better in the reduced tillage treatments than in the CT treatment. This difference in clear juice purity probably resulted from the higher levels of spring soil NO3‐N found under CT than under reduced tillage plots. The results indicate that sucrose production under reduced seedbed tillage conditions can be maintained at levels comparable with conventional seedbed tillage conditions. Potential advantages of reduced seedbed tillage for sugarbeets are wind erosion control, reduced soil crusting problems, better soil water conditions in the seedbed for germination, reduced energy requirements, and reduced production costs.

The effect of leaf conditioning on the timing of litter processing on a Michigan woodland floodplain

This study investigated the role of conditioning in controlling the rate of microbial colonization of leaf litter (pignut hickory, Carya glabra) on a woodland floodplain and the timing of invertebrate participation in the processing of that litter. Experiments compared the rates at which the floodplain invertebrate community processed leaf litter that had been "conditioned" under circumstances expected to result in significantly different microbial densities (i.e., stream conditioned vs. floodplain conditioned). The data showed that soil invertebrates clearly processed the stream-conditioned leaves at a faster rate. Even with the relatively low soil temperatures in early spring, there was significant processing of the stream-conditioned leaves while the floodplain-conditioned leaves remained virtually untouched. This showed that the timing of invertebrate participation in the processing of floodplain litter cannot be ascribed entirely to temperature-related invertebrate inactivity. Rather, it is dependent on those internal and external factors controlling the colonization of leaves by microorganisms.

Environmental Regulation of Dormancy in the Alfalfa Blotch Leafminer, Agromyza frontella (Diptera: Agromyzidae)

Agromyza frontella (Rondani) enter diapause during early autumn in central New York as partially developed pupae in the soil. Diapause is maintained throughout autumn and early winter (September to January), mainly by low temperatures and partly by short daylengths. As autumn progresses, response to these factors diminishes, and by the end of January the thermal maintenance of diapause has ceased. A. frontella continue to respond weakly to photoperiod until late March. After diapause ends, heat accumulation begins when soil temperatures rise above 3.9°C, the theoretical threshold for postdiapause development. Adults emerge in the laboratory when 259 degree-days above 3.9°C have accumulated, and this value predicts closely the emergence of field populations in central New York. These results have important implications for pest management: A. frontella phenology can be predicted reliably by monitoring soil temperatures in both autumn and spring, and temperature can be manipulated either for continuously rearing blotch leafminers or for rapid reactivation of pupae stored in the cold. The strong thermal influence on diapause indicates that A. frontella populations could extend their North American range southward without requiring selection for photoperiodic adaptation.

Geoecological Investigations on the Timberline of Pico de Orizaba, Mexico

Measurements of soil temperature, soil mois- The lack of dense, dwarfed tree stands above ture, and surface temperature were carried out the timberline seems to be a result of natural at different elevations on Pico de Orizaba, Mex- and man-made fire. The main limiting factor to ico, in order to evaluate the ecology (phenology, tree growth is low soil temperature in spring, plant physiology, and surface fire impact) of the which limits water diffusion through plant cell

FIELD STUDIES OF THE SOIL ATMOSPHERE II. OCCURRENCE OF NITROUS OXIDE

SummaryStudies were made of the seasonal changes in the occurrence of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere of two clay soils. During the winter of 1971‐2 the nitrous oxide concentrations at both sites were in the range 20‐50 ppm. Levels increased with rising soil temperatures in spring, the mean values reaching 50‐170 ppm in May; some individual samples contained 1500‐6500 ppm. The level of nitrous oxide was inversely related to the oxygen content of the soil atmosphere and was also correlated with the nitrate and nitrite concentration of the soil water, but could not be correlated with either the proximity of field drains, soil moisture content or rainfall.

Autumn, Winter and Spring Soil Temperatures in Okstindan, Norway

Soil temperatures were recorded over periods of several weeks in the years 1909 and 1970 in two sites to a depth of 100 cm. It was found that snow depth was of major importance in the rate of freezing of the soil in winter; where snow cover was less than 5 cm in depth freezing rates were almost double those where snow depth was over 1 m. Snow cover also insulated the soil surface from above-zero air temperatures during spring, and soil thawing commenced from the surface only following the clearance of snow. Similarly, insulation of the soil surface by snow prevented short-term freezing and thawing cycles penetrating the soil, although even where snow cover was absent such short-term cycles were not observed to penetrate the soil to depths in excess of 5 cm. This surficial freezing and thawing of the soil took place more readily in spring than in the autumn. It was concluded that the annual cycle of soil freezing and thawing was the dominant factor in the thermal regime of these soils, short-term freezing cycles affecting only the immediate surface soil layers.

Autumn, Winter and Spring Soil Temperatures in Okstindan, Norway

Soil temperatures were recorded over periods of several weeks in the years 1909 and 1970 in two sites to a depth of 100 cm. It was found that snow depth was of major importance in the rate of freezing of the soil in winter; where snow cover was less than 5 cm in depth freezing rates were almost double those where snow depth was over 1 m. Snow cover also insulated the soil surface from above-zero air temperatures during spring, and soil thawing commenced from the surface only following the clearance of snow. Similarly, insulation of the soil surface by snow prevented short-term freezing and thawing cycles penetrating the soil, although even where snow cover was absent such short-term cycles were not observed to penetrate the soil to depths in excess of 5 cm. This surficial freezing and thawing of the soil took place more readily in spring than in the autumn. It was concluded that the annual cycle of soil freezing and thawing was the dominant factor in the thermal regime of these soils, short-term freezing cycles affecting only the immediate surface soil layers.

Emergence and Development of Sweet Corn as Influenced by Various Soil Mulches1

AbstractAn evaluation was made of the influence of three mulches on early development and maturity of sweet corn. The mulches were: (a) a film of water emulsion asphalt sprayed over the seeded row; (b) plates standard greenhouse glass between seeded rows; and (c) a layer of water contained in polyethylene bags between seeded rows. Early spring soil temperatures were increased by the mulches. Emergence of seedlings and plant developmentw ere also hastened. Sweet corn planted April 6 was ready for harvest on glass.mulched plots 13 days earlier than on nonmulched plots. Asphalt and water mulches resulted in harvest 7 and 3 days earlier than from nonmulched plots. Combining early seeding (April 6) with mulching resulted in sweet corn harvests 19, 13, and 9 days earlier than normal seeding time (early May) in the bare soil for glass, asphalt, and water mulches, respectively.

Spring Soil Temperatures Related to Drainage Problems

Drainage problems persist in many irrigation districts where alfalfa, irrigated by the border method, is grown extensively. Early spring growth of alfalfa results from root activity (water removal) in only the upper inches of soil where a wide range of daily soil temperature fluctuation occurs. Attempting to replenish depleted soil moisture in this shallow root zone by irrigating with the border system results in applying excess water. In areas susceptible to high water table fluctuations, excess irrigation water causes alfalfa to become shallow-rooted. Shallow-rooted alfalfa requires frequent irrigation, but each irrigation further contributes to the water-table problem. An alternative corrective measure is presented. The principal feature involves delaying the first irrigation in the spring until the soil temperature at 18 in. reaches 12.8○ C (55○ F).

Studies on the Growth and Yields of Winter Wheat in Highlands : III. Effects of high temperature in winter and early spring upon the growth and yields of winter wheat : lV. Effects of high soil temperature in winter and early spring upon the growth and yields of winter wheat

We have reported by the statistical study that the correlation coefficients between the yield-constitutional factors of winter wheat and atmospheric and soil temperatures before and after severe winter were very high in highlands. Therefore we studied experimentally the influence of raising atmospheric and soil temperatures during December to April upon the growth and yields of wheat. The results were as follows: 1) Higher atmospheric temperature and higher soil temperature treatments in early March to late March increased the number of ripened grains per ear, probably as the results of the recovery effect resulted from the vigorous vegetative growth and also healthy differentiation induced by higher temperature. Higher temperature in early to mid-April increased the number of ears, probably as the results of effective spring tillering. By these reasons the yields were increased by the above two treatments. 2) Though higher temperature in December to February increased the number of stem in early spring period, it was decreased at the harvest time on account of the death of spikelets by subsequent cold weather. Consequently the yields were not increased by these treatment, although the growth of wheat was promoted

Studies on the Affects of Soil Temperature upon the Growth of Crop Plants (II) : Effects of soil temperature upon the growth of wheat varieties (1)

The soil temperature is one of significant factors affecting the growth of plants, but no study was intended to examine the effect of soil temperature in winter period upon the growth and yield of wheat varieties. In this study, two winter wheat varieties: Konosu No. 25 and Norin No. 17 were used and seeded in the containers at Dec. 1. 1957. The soil temperature treatments were performed by placing pots in two constant temperature water tanks at outdoors maintained at about 6°C. and 11°C. in winter period (Jan. 11.-Mar. 31.) respectively, but those temperatures were rised about 5°∼6°C. during Apr. 1. to May 31. (Fig. 1) The results were as follows: 1) The growth of both top and root were retarded by low soil temperature (ca. 6°C.) and the degree of retardation in growth by low soil temperature was larger in root. 2) As the development of ears were promoted by high soil temperature (ca. 11°C.), heading, flowering and ripening times were hastened about one week by high soil temperature treatment. 3) Grain yield was significantly increased in the high soil temperature plot in Norin No. 17, but in Konosu No. 25, there was little difference between each plots. 4) From the above results, we concluded that the soil temperature in winter and early spring affects markedly on the vegetative and reproductive growth of wheat plants and there is varietal differences in the degree of retardation of growth by low soil temperature. It is supposed that the susceptibility to low soil temperature of Norin No. 17 may be related to the cold and snow resistance of this variety.