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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 is crucial for germination; certain temperatures are optimal for different seeds to sprout.
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Growth rate of plants: Soils that are warm will promote faster growth rates as metabolic processes accelerate at higher temperatures.
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Ripening of crops: Warmer soil temperatures can lead to quicker ripening, impacting harvest timing.
Step 2
Compare dark coloured soils with light coloured soils in relation to heat absorption.
Answer
Dark coloured soils tend to absorb more heat compared to light coloured soils. This is due to the fact that dark surfaces absorb a higher percentage of the sun's radiant energy, which increases their temperature more quickly during the day.
Step 3
Analyse the graph and deduce the effect of soil depth on soil temperature.
Answer
The graph illustrates that:
- Surface temperatures fluctuate significantly between day and night, showing higher temperatures during the day.
- As depth increases (100 mm and 200 mm), the soil temperature becomes more stable and less variable, indicating that deeper soils experience less temperature fluctuation.
- During the night, while surface temperatures drop rapidly, the temperatures at greater depths decrease at a slower rate, underscoring the insulating effect of soil layers.