What is Soil Temperature?
Comparison of bare and covered soil temperature. Photo Credit: Kenny Eck, Purdue University
Soil temperature is defined as the temperature measured at a specific soil depth. Soil temperature is a factor that influences the physical, chemical, and microbiological processes that take place in soil. Many biological processes, including seed germination, plant emergence, microbial activity, nutrient cycling and soil respiration are a function of soil temperature. Cropping practices including use of cover crops, crop rotations, grazing of crop residues or cover crops, removal of crop residues and tillage have an effect on soil temperature.
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| Title | Source | Resource type and date | Short Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Measuring soil health: soil temperature | NRCS | NRCS Fact Sheet
Not Dated |
Soil temperature is the factor that drives germination of seeds. Soil temperature directly affects plant growth. Most soil organisms function best at an optimum soil temperature. Soil temperature impacts the rate of nitrification.It also influences soil moisture content, aeration and availability of plant nutrients |
| Soil Health Assessment: Soil Temperature | Soil Health Nexus | How-to Video
May 2019 |
Gary Lesoing with University of Nebraska Extension discusses the importance of soil temperature with soil health. |
| Bare soil temperature | Kenny Eck, Purdue University | Image
Oct 2019 |
Soil temperature can be measured with a basic thermometer. Photo Credit: Kenny Eck, Purdue University |
| Residue covered and bare soil temperature | Kenny Eck, Purdue University | Image
Oct 2019 |
Comparison of bare and covered soil temperature. Photo Credit: Kenny Eck, Purdue University |
| Easing the soil’s temperature | American Society of Agronomy | Researcher Blog Post
Nov 2017 |
Every plant needs a certain soil temperature to thrive. If the temperature changes too quickly, plants won’t do well. |
| Title | Source | Resource type and date | Short Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Importance of Soil Temperature for the Growth of Temperate Crops under a Tropical Climate and Functional Role of Soil Microbial Diversity | Microbes and Environments | Peer-reviewed Publication
Jun 2018 |
Soil temperature closely correlates with the growth of temperate crops, and affects plant processes and soil microbial diversity. The present study focuses on the effects of soil temperatures on lettuce growth and soil microbial diversity that maintains the growth of lettuce at low soil temperatures. |
Last reviewed 10/1/19