What are the effects of soil temperature on crops?

Soil temperature, also known as ground temperature, refers to the temperature in the soil below the surface. The influence of soil temperature on crops is multi-faceted. Therefore, it is often necessary to determine soil temperature in agricultural planting and agricultural research. The widely used soil temperature measurement method is mainly instrumental method, that is, using soil thermometer to directly measure.

Measurement studies have shown that soil temperature affects plant growth, development and soil formation, and the impact on crops runs through all stages of crop growth. For example, the germination of seeds requires certain soil conditions to support. Only when the soil temperature and moisture conditions meet the standards, the seeds will germinate. In terms of soil temperature requirements, the average soil temperature for seed germination is generally 1 to 5 °C. The thermophilic crop is 8-10 °C. Therefore, using a soil thermometer to measure soil temperature can guide seeding reasonably and ensure the effect of sowing.

In addition, we know that the root system bears the “heavy duty” to absorb and transport water nutrients. Therefore, the growth of crop roots is very important, while the roots grow in the soil and are directly affected by soil conditions such as soil temperature. The roots of common crops are at soil temperature. Growth began at 2 to 4 ° C. Root growth was more active at 10 ° C or higher, and root growth was hindered when it exceeded 35 ° C. Therefore, in order to ensure the healthy growth of crop roots, it is also necessary to pay more attention to environmental changes such as soil temperature.

In addition to the above direct effects, soil temperature can have an indirect effect on crops. Soil temperature has great significance for the humification process of the soil, the mineralization process and the nutrient supply of the plants. It is precisely because the influence of soil temperature on crops is so great that modern agriculture needs to use soil thermometers to strengthen the monitoring of soil temperature, timely guide production, take effective measures to achieve improvement purposes, and achieve high-quality and high-yield production targets.