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Observed and Predicted Two-Dimensional Soil Temperature Distributions Under a Row Crop¹

ABSTRACT

A two-dimensional soil heat transfer model was developed to compute the soil temperature distribution between rows of crops which partially shaded the soil surface. The model is based on an explicit solution, using CSMP, of the heat conduction equation and allows for time and space dependence of soil thermal properties. Measured soil temperatures were taken as input for the upper boundary. Computed temperature distributions were compared with temperatures measured below a trickle irrigated row crop, which only partially shaded the soil. There was a large variation in the surface and near surface soil temperatures with distance from the row. Ranges of the daily surface soil temperature waves were about 5°C directly below the crop and about 40°C between two crop rows. Around noon the horizontal soil heat flux in the upper soil profile was much greater than the soil heat flux in the vertical direction. Better agreement was obtained between measured soil temperatures and predicted soil temperatures when horizontal heat flux was taken into account.

¹ Journal Article 1021, Agric. Exp. Stn., New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces, NM 88003.

² Assistant Professor, Dep. of Agronomy, Iowa State Univ., Former Graduate Student, and Professor, Dep. of Crop and Soil Sciences, New Mexico State Univ., respectively.

Received for publication June 20, 1983. Accepted for publication March 19, 1984.