Soil Temperature Calculator

Air Temperature (°C): Soil Moisture (%):

The temperatures are given in degrees Celsius.

Soil Type	Winter (0-10 cm)	Winter (10-30 cm)	Spring (0-10 cm)	Spring (10-30 cm)	Summer (0-10 cm)	Summer (10-30 cm)	Fall (0-10 cm)	Fall (10-30 cm)
Sandy Soil	0-5	2-8	8-12	10-15	20-25	22-28	10-15	12-18
Clay Soil	-2-2	0-5	6-10	8-13	18-22	20-26	8-12	10-15
Silt Loam Soil	1-4	3-7	9-13	11-16	21-26	23-29	11-16	13-19
Peaty Soil	-1-3	1-6	7-11	9-14	17-21	19-25	9-13	11-16
Loamy Soil	2-6	4-9	10-14	12-18	22-27	24-30	12-17	14-20
Chalky Soil	0-4	2-8	8-12	10-15	20-24	22-28	10-14	12-18

These values are estimated and can vary significantly based on geographic location, specific weather conditions, and other environmental factors.

Soil temperature plays a key role in farming. It affects if plants will do well in the area. This temp is critical right from the start of a plant’s life. It shows when it’s best to plant. The temp difference by month, season, and day really changes how plants grow. So, farmers work hard to control the ground temp, especially when it’s very hot. They do this to make sure plants grow just right. This lets them choose the best times for planting and other farm jobs.

Key Takeaways

Soil temperature is a crucial factor in plant growth and development.
Monitoring and regulating soil temperature is essential for successful crop cultivation.
Soil temperature impacts nutrient uptake, root growth, photosynthesis, and microbial activity.
Factors like solar radiation, soil color, organic matter, and moisture content affect soil temperature.
Optimal soil temperature ranges vary for different crops and growth stages.

What is Soil Temperature and Why is it Important?

Soil temperature is the warmth the ground naturally holds. This warmth affects the chemistry and biology of the ground. It also plays a part in how gases move between soil and air. In farming, soil temperature is crucial. It affects many important procedures, like soil solarization. This process uses the sun’s heat on moist soil to fight pests and weeds.

Fertilizing and controlling weeds also rely on soil temperatures. Its warmth is key for their success.

Definition of Soil Temperature

Soil temperature is how hot or cold the ground is. This measurement affects the health and productivity of soil systems.

Importance of Soil Temperature in Agriculture

In farming, soil temperature is critical. Successful practices like soil solarization, fertilizing, and weed control depend on it. The warmth of the soil affects plant growth. It changes how plants use nutrients, water, and grow their roots. For example, the amount of nitrogen a plant takes in is related to soil temperature.

Impact on Plant Growth and Development

Soil temperature directly influences how plants grow. It affects their ability to take in water and nutrients and the way microorganisms work. It also affects how fast plants can make food from sunlight.

These factors, in turn, affect soil properties. For example, the soil’s chemistry and biology change. This affects how materials like organic matter break down and how some nutrients are available to plants. The best soil temperature for planting depends on the crop. Some need cooler soil, like 37°F (3°C), while others, like soybeans, require warmer, 59°F (15°C) soil.

Factors Affecting Soil Temperature

Soil temperature is not the same everywhere. It varies based on many things. These include color, slope, what covers the ground, how hard it is, how wet it is, and sunlight. Knowing about these factors helps us make soil warmer or cooler for plants.

Solar Radiation

The sun’s heat is the biggest reason soil warms up. Depending on the season and weather, the sun’s heat spreads differently. This changes how warm the soil gets over the year.

Soil Color

Soil color matters a lot in heat absorption. Dark soils absorb more heat from the sun and warm up faster. Light soils stay cooler because they reflect more sunlight.

Ground Cover

Covering the ground can cool it down. Things like mulch, plants, or trees act as a shield. They stop too much sun from reaching the soil’s surface.

Organic Matter Content

More organic matter means soil can keep onto water better. It also makes soil darker, which warms the ground more.

Slope Angle

How steep a slope is affects sunlight warming. The sun warms the south-facing side quicker. The north side is cooler since it gets less sun.

Moisture Content

If the soil is wet, it takes longer to warm up. This is because water needs more energy to heat. So, wet soil stays cooler.

Soil Composition and Texture

The kind of soil and how it feels affect temperature too. Sandy soil heats up and cools down quickly. But, clay stays more stable. Hard-packed soils stay cooler because they keep the air and water out.

Farmers need to understand what affects soil temperature. They use this knowledge to adjust the soil for the best plant growth.

Effects of Soil Temperature on Plant Growth

Soil temperature is key for plants to grow and develop. Warm soil helps crops grow by letting them take in more water and nutrients. Cold soil, on the other hand, makes it hard for plants to take in water. This is because cold water is thicker, affecting their ability to use it well in several ways.

Low temperatures also slow down photosynthesis, which is how plants make their food. This is not good for the tiny creatures living in the soil. When it’s not warm enough, these microorganisms work less. This means they don’t release as many nutrients into the soil as they should.

Lack of warmth can also slow down the dissolving of nutrients in the soil. While warmer soil helps roots grow, too much heat can harm the soil. This happens by making organic matter break down quickly and by drying up the soil too fast. Finding the right soil temperature is very important for plants to grow right.

Nutrient and Water Uptake

Plant food and water intake, root growth, and how nitrogen moves are all tied to soil heat. Warmer soil boosts the power of soil to swap plant nutrients and makes more phosphorus available in water. But when it’s cold, plants can’t get the nutrients they need very well.

Root Development

Warm soil is great for roots, but too hot can be bad for the soil. It speeds up the breaking down of dead plants and reduces moisture. This can disrupt the balance in the soil and harm plant growth.

Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis, the process that keeps plants alive, depends a lot on soil heat. Cold weather slows down photosynthesis, meaning plants don’t make enough food. Warm soil, however, boosts this life-sustaining process in plants.

Microbial Activity

Soil should be between 50 to 75°F (10-24°C) for vital soil life and breaking down old plants. If it’s too cold, the creatures in the soil do less work. This results in fewer available plant nutrients, causing plants to struggle.

Impact of Soil Temperature on Soil Properties

Soil temperature changes affect the soil’s life, chemistry, and structure. It’s best for life in the soil when temperatures are between 50 and 75°F (10-24°C). At these temperatures, soil organisms can do their job well. They help break down dead plants, make nitrogen ready for plants to use, and process soluble nutrients.

Biological Properties

Microbes in the soil love warmth. For every 10°C the temperature goes up between 0°C and 30°C/35°C, their work doubles. This means soil temperature greatly shapes how many and what kinds of microbes live there. Each type of soil microbe has its own favorite temperature. There are slimelike creatures that like it cold, ones that like it warm, and some that like it really hot.

By knowing the temperature they prefer, we can understand which ones are probably living in a certain soil type. This knowledge is key for farmers and scientists studying the soil.

Chemical Properties

High soil temperatures can dry out clay and make sand crack. This can lower clay and sand amounts and increase silt. Also, the warmer the soil, the more carbon dioxide it lets out.

Physical Properties

Soil can crack when it’s too hot and water can’t get in deep enough. This carrying off of water is called evaporation. It happens more when the soil gets too hot.

The ability of the soil to hold heat, let heat move through it, and how quickly heat spreads out all come from its basic make-up. This includes how compacted it is, what it’s made of, and how much water it has in it.

Soil Temperature: Protect Your Plants

Plants need warmth to grow properly. When it’s cold, their growth slows down. The best way to help plants thrive is by looking at how warm the soil gets. You should check the soil’s past temperatures. Watch the current weather and track weather forecasts. This data will help you know when the soil is ready for planting.

Monitoring Soil Temperature

It’s best to plant crops when the soil reaches certain temperatures. For example, the soil should be 37°F (3°C) for spring wheat to grow. Soybeans need it to be 59°F (15°C). Spring canola and sugar beets require 50°F (10°C). To protect your plants early on, use treatments like AgriShield® or Acceleron®. These can keep pests and diseases away.

Ideal Soil Temperature for Planting

For seeds to start growing, the soil should be between 68 and 86°F (20-30°C). Cool-season crops like carrots and spinach do well at 50°F. But, crops like tomatoes and peppers need it to be at least 60°F. Tomatoes grow best when the soil is 65 to 70°F.

Seed Protection Measures

If you’re planting before the soil is warm enough, protect your plants. Weston Miller suggests using floating covers or cloches. You can make cloches out of milk jugs or soda bottles too.

Soil Modification Technique	Soil Temperature Increase
Black plastic sheet	3°C
Peatmoss mulch	3°C
Combining black plastic and peatmoss under a tent	Up to 6°C
Sandy soil compared to peat or clay soil	2 to 3°C warmer
South-oriented or sheltered walls during freezes	Up to 2-3°C warmer
Cold frame tent	Up to 2°C warmer
Raised beds or growing in black containers during sunny days	Up to 5°C warmer
Rocks	About 1°C warmer
Sun warming air above soil compared to shaded locations	5°C more during freeze days, 10-20°C more during summer
South-oriented metallic walls	Up to 2-3°C warmer in winter nights, up to 6°C warmer during sunny days

Maximizing Yields with Optimal Soil Temperature

For the best growth, soil needs to be at least 50°F for corn and soybeans. But, you can plant some crops when it’s colder. You measure how warm the soil gets with Growing Degree Units (GDUs). Corn needs 100-120 GDUs, while soybeans need 130 to start growing.

Planting Time and Weather Forecasting

Soil at 60°F makes seeds sprout in 12 days, much faster than if it’s 50-55°F soil which takes three weeks. It’s key to watch the weather closely. Sometimes, a warm front means you can plant even if it’s cooler than usual.

Growing Degree Units (GDUs)

We use GDUs to see how much heat adds up in the soil. Corn needs 100-120 GDUs, soybeans 130 GDUs to come out of the ground.

Crop-Specific Temperature Requirements

Every crop likes a certain soil temperature to grow its best. For seeds to start, soil must be between 68 and 86°F (20-30°C). Spring wheat can handle 37°F (3°C), soybeans need it to be 59°F (15°C) to grow well.

Conclusion

Keeping an eye on soil temperature is very important for growing corn and soybeans well. Making smart choices based on weather, growing degree units, and the right seed starts is key. It’s wise to check soil temperatures for several days to avoid planting in cold, wet soil. This can lead to problems like seed rot and diseases.

The color, slope, and parts with vegetation in your field all affect soil temperature. Knowing this helps farmers pick the best time and conditions for planting. By managing soil temperature correctly, farmers can boost their harvests and income.

Soil temperature matters a lot for many parts of farming, such as planting, controlling weeds, and adding fertilizers. By keeping an eye on it and making changes when needed, your crops can grow well and give you a big harvest.

FAQ

What is soil temperature and why is it important?

Soil temperature is how warm the ground is. It affects the soil’s chemistry, biology, and how gases move between the ground and air. This warmth level is crucial in farming. It decides if plants can grow well. It also affects when to plant seeds and impacts how farmers fight weeds and pests.

How do different factors affect soil temperature?

Color, slope, plant cover, compression, and wetness impact soil temperature. The sun is key in warming the soil. Soil color, how much soil is covered, its organic matter, and slope steepness can change how warm the soil gets.

What are the effects of soil temperature on plant growth?

Soil warmth affects how plants grow. It impacts how they drink water, absorb nutrients, and do photosynthesis. Warm soil helps plants grow quicker. But, very cold soil can stop some plant activities.

How does soil temperature affect soil properties?

Soil warmth changes the soil’s biology, chemistry, and physical features. The best soil temperatures (50-75°F) let soil life work well. Too much heat, though, can dry the soil, make it crack, and release more carbon dioxide.

How can I ensure optimal soil temperature for my crops?

To have the best starting ground, aim for at least 50°F for crops like corn and soybeans. Keep an eye on the soil’s warmth. Watch the weather and how many growing units you have. You can also treat your seeds to keep early bugs and diseases away.

How can I maximize crop yields with optimal soil temperature?

To get the most from your crops, watch the soil’s warmth closely. Use weather predictions and growing degree units to plan. Knowing your crops’ exact needs can help you make smart planting choices for better yields and profits.