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Soil temperature influences the productivity of any crop production enterprise - NSC Agricultural Management Practices - Question 2 - 2021 - Paper 1
Question 2
Soil temperature influences the productivity of any crop production enterprise. 2.1.1 List THREE plant growth processes that are influenced by soil temperature. 2.... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Soil temperature influences the productivity of any crop production enterprise - NSC Agricultural Management Practices - Question 2 - 2021 - Paper 1
Step 1
List THREE plant growth processes that are influenced by soil temperature.
Answer
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Germination of seeds - Soil temperature plays a critical role in the activation of seed metabolism necessary for germination.
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Growth rate of plants - Warmer soil can enhance the growth rate, allowing plants to reach maturity faster.
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Ripening of crops - Certain crops require specific soil temperatures to ripen properly, affecting the timing of harvest.
Step 2
Compare dark coloured soils with light coloured soils in relation to heat absorption.
Answer
Dark coloured soils absorb more heat compared to light coloured soils due to their lower albedo. This results in higher temperatures in dark soils, which can enhance seed germination and plant growth, especially in cooler conditions.
Step 3
Analyse the graph and deduce the effect of soil depth on soil temperature.
Answer
The graph indicates that during the day, surface soil temperatures are significantly higher than those at 100 mm and 200 mm depths. The surface soil absorbs heat from sunlight rapidly, while as depth increases, temperatures show a more gradual increase, indicating less heat absorption. Conversely, at night, the surface soil loses heat more quickly, leading to lower temperatures compared to deeper soil layers, which maintain more stable temperatures throughout the night due to insulation from the overlying soil.