Impact of soil temperature on fruit species within climate change scenarios

Abstract

Climate change, with its consequent increase in temperatures and precipitation, has significant impacts on soil surface horizons, affecting the establishment, development, and production of crops and food security and safety. Solar radiation influences the thermals of Earth's surface. Apart from radiation, the effects of soil temperature (STe) are specific to fruit species and are mainly modified by humidity, soil cover and air temperature. Increasing the STe within an optimal range promotes the growth of roots and plants and increases the absorption of water and nutrients, photosynthesis, transpiration, efficient use of water and microbial processes. These effects have been demonstrated in several studies on fruit trees and on grape vines, citrus, cape gooseberries, Annonaceae, avocados, olives and prickly pears. However, apart from these positive results, an increased STe as the result of global warming can generate water stress and in turn affect the yield and quality of fruit trees. In terms of effects from cultural practices, mulching with black or blue plastic can increase the soil temperature, and white or silver plastic decreases it. When compared to air temperature, increases in STe in the plants physiology and climate impact studies have been little studied. Therefore, this review aimed to make significant contributions to facilitate decision-making with the goal of reducing the effects of global warming, especially on fruit trees.

Altitude as a determinant of fruit quality with emphasis on the Andean tropics of Colombia. A review.

“…Since the atmospheric layer that filters solar rays is thinner in high areas, UV radiation increases between 10 to 12% with each increase of 1,000 m in altitude (Benavides et al, 2017). This greater incidence of solar radiation at high elevations increases soil temperature (Fischer et al, 2022), favoring plant growth. In addition, the microclimate of a particular site can vary because of other factors, e.g., the gradient of decreasing temperature with altitude can be modified by location, time of day (Benavides et al, 2017), and cloudiness (Paull & Duarte, 2011).…”

“…However, Van Leeuven and Darriet (2016) stated that, in the case of wine grapes, the movement of vineyards to higher altitudes as the result of global warming has a high economic and social cost. Of course, there are also the possibilities of choosing species and varieties more adapted to the phenomenon of climate change (Yohannes, 2016) without moving to higher altitudes, apart from plant breeding programs such as the combination of genetic modification of high yield germplasm with proper crop management (Fischer et al, 2022). But these topics were not the objective of this review.…”

Comparative Assessment of Regeneration, Structure and Species Diversity of Woody Vegetation in Disturbed and Undisturbed Sites of a Secondary Montane Forest, Kenya

“…This could be linked to shading by the closed canopy which could have affected light penetration [29]. Furthermore, closed canopy results in debris accumulation on the forest floor hindering seed settlement, hence, low seed germination [35].…”

Performance of the ‘Anna’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) in Tropical Highlands: A review

“…Temperature and altitude. Temperature is one of the variables that are more influenced by global warming and one of the most important for the growth and development of plants (Fischer et al, 2022). It influences the speed of physiological processes since it affects the kinetic energy of enzymatic activity (Fischer et al, 2016).…”