Effects of mulches on soil temperatures under Arabica coffee at Kabete, Kenya

Abstract

In an experiment in which soil temperatures under coffee mulched with grass, clear polythene, black polythene and white polythene, were recorded at different depths, it was found that grass mulch lowered soil temperature; white polythene mulch either slightly raised soil temperature or lowered it; and black and clear polythene greatly increased soil temperature, with the clear variety giving the highest temperatures. It was concluded that mulches can be used to control soil temperature under coffee, and that polythene mulches can be used instead of grass mulch, thus freeing more land for the production of coffee.