RANCHING


Watching Soil Temps Soil temperatures impact more than planting By Kim Potts


W


HEN TEMPERATURES START WARMING OR COOLING above ground that may not be what’s hap- pening underground. Since soil temperatures


can vary from fi eld to fi eld, similar to air temperature, it’s a good idea to take soil temperatures to know for sure what’s going on below, because that may impact planting and forage growth. “Soil temperature is important in regards to plant-


ing,” says Vanessa Corriher Olson, assistant professor and Extension forage specialist at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Overton. The ability of plants to germinate and to absorb nutrients and water is impacted by the soil around them. And optimal soil temperatures for planting also depend on forage species. Root functions, such as nutrient uptake and water


uptake, are slowed in cool soils where temperatures are below the optimum for the particular species, explains


54 The Cattleman March 2014


Olson. Conversely, in warm regions soil temperatures may be too high for optimal plant growth, especially in the upper few centimeters of soil. Warm-season forages versus cool-season forages also will be differ- ent, so follow planting recommendations for a specifi c species as the best time for planting. “Even plants of tropical origin are adversely affected


by soil temperatures higher than 95 degrees Fahren- heit,” says Olson. And seed germination may also be reduced by high soil temperatures. “For bermudagrass, soil temperatures above 65 degrees Fahrenheit are re- quired for signifi cant growth of rhizomes, roots and stolons. Optimum soil temperature for root growth is around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Soil temperature that is best for planting will depend on the forage species.”


Temps impact inputs Beyond planting, soil temperatures also affect inputs.


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