Abstract

Soil temperature varies seasonally and daily which may result from changes in radiant energy and energy changes taking place through the soil surface. It governs the soil physiochemical and biological processes and also influences the interspheric processes of gas exchange between the atmosphere and the soil. Environmental factors affect soil temperature by either controlling the amount of heat supplied to the soil surface and the amount of heat dissipated from the soil surface down the profile. Soil temperature alters the rate of organic matter decomposition and mineralization of different organic materials. It also affects soil water content, its conductivity and availability to plants. The paper introduced soil temperature as a major determinant of the processes that takes place in the soil which are necessary for plant growth.

Keywords

Soil temperature, Heat, Decomposition, Plant growth, Radiant energy, Temperature, Radiation, Biological processes, Surface, Organic matter, Radiant, Slope, Thermal insulator, Absorption, Evaporate, Dissipation, Nitrogen, Respiration, Macro-organisms, Stimulating