Influence of transparent film mulch, soil type and organic soil amendmenton on temperature of soil under solarization for root-knot nematode control

The effect of film mulch (double mulch, single mulch and no mulch), soil type(medium loam and sandy loam)and organic matter (with and without cow dung)on temperature of soil sterilized by solarization to control root-knot nematode was investigated. It is found that transparent polyethylene film mulch significantly boosts daily average soil temperature and daily maximum soil temperature at 10cm, 20cm and 30cm soil depths, daily average soil temperatures being above 40℃，38℃ and 36℃,and daily maximum soil temperatures above 43.3℃, 39.0℃ and 36.5℃, respectively. Film mulch also markedly extends high temperature duration and improves daily temperature difference. Cumulative temperatures over 35℃ lasts for more than 22.5h and daily temperature differences at 10cm, 20cm and 30cm soil depths are over 7.1℃, 2.6℃ and 0.8℃, respectively. Double film mulch is superior to single film mulch in terms of daily average soil temperature, daily maximum temperature, high temperature duration and daily temperature difference, especially at 10cm soil depth. With the exception of the 20cm soil profile, soil type exerts no influence on daily average soil temperature and daily maximum temperature at the 10cm and 30cm soil depths. Organic amendment with cow dung can significantly enhance daily average temperature within 20cm depth of soil by over 2℃. It is concluded that soil solarization with transparent film mulch and cow dung amendment is promising in increasing soil temperature to the extent needed to control Meloidogyne incognita population within 30cm soil depth in the study area.