Influence of Water Mulches on Soil Temperatures and Sweet Corn and Green Bean Production

Bowers, S.A. (1968) Influence of Water Mulches on Soil Temperatures and Sweet Corn and Green Bean Production. Soil Science. 105(5):335-345.

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Abstract

The relation between soil temperature and
crop production has been studied extensively.
Such studies resulted in a wide acceptance of
plastic mulches, asphalt mulches and other
practices designed to favorably alter the crop
environment.

Favorable qualities attributed to plastic
mulches are suppression of weed growth, reduction
of evaporation, and elevation of soil
temperatures early in the season. Experimental
evidence indicates the existence of optimum
soil temperature ranges for maximum crop
production. Wort (11), working under greenhouse
conditions, found maximum vegetive
production with Marquis wheat occurred at a
soil temperature of 72° F. Yamaguchi, et al.
(12), working with potatoes in the greenhouse,
reported that maximum foliar growth was in
the soil temperature range of 70 to 75° F.; the
optimum temperature range for tuber formation
was 60 to 75° F.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	0082
Subjects:	Irrigated crops > Bean / dry bean Irrigated crops > Corn / maize Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:53
Last Modified:	15 Mar 2017 22:32
Item ID:	613
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/613