A transient-spectral thermal model of soil under radiative-interfering cover

In this paper, the soil temperature distribution under a plastic cover is determined, by devising a transient, one-dimensional model to describe the different heat transfer interaction between soil and environment. The inherent radiative heat exchange along a spectral range has been considered, including the variability of incidence angle of solar radiation. Conduction through the soil layers, their volumetric heat capacity, convection within the air gap and radiation through the cover has been taken into account, considering weather data, at the considered site, as boundary conditions. The simulation is carried out by using a numerical method, and results have been favourably validated by experimental observation from held tests. The reported study confirms that, for the employed materials, the thermal regime within the soil depends on their long-wave radiative behaviour. (C) 2000 Silsoe Research Institute.