• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.511-514
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• 2012

Polyethylene mulches have been used for weed control in vegetable production in Korea. One of the additional benefits associated with polyethylene mulches is soil warming. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of colored mulches on soil temperature change and Chinese cabbage yield. Mulch treatments were green (GV), black (BV), transparent (TV), and non-mulched (NM) soil. The highest soil-warming effect occurred under green mulch, and the lowest effect was found under black mulch. Daily mean values of soil temperature (10 cm depth) under GV were $2^{\circ}C$ higher than in NM soil. At midday (16:00), mean soil temperature was higher by $3.9^{\circ}C$ in GV, $3.1^{\circ}C$ in BV, and $2.1^{\circ}C$ in TV as compared to NM soil. At night (20:00-06:00), there was no significant difference in soil temperature among the treatments of different colored mulch, but soils in the mulch treatments were $2.4^{\circ}C$ higher as compared to NM soil. As compared with NM, the yield of Chinese cabbage under GV, BV, and TV were higher by 6.0, 26.0, and 12.0%, respectively.