Prediction of Soil Temperatures of a Soil Mulched with Transparent Polyethylene

Abstract A numerical model for the prediction of mulched soil temperature has been developed. The model takes into consideration environmental condition as well as physical characteristics of both the mulch material and the soil. The ability of the model to predict the temperature of the mulched and unmulched soil is tested. It is shown that soil temperatures of a wet mulched soil are significantly increased, primarily due to the elimination of evaporation and partly due to the greenhouse effect of the polyethylene film. In the case of a dry mulched soil the greenhouse effect is dominant. Thus a smaller temperature increase is obtained.