The influence of organic mulches on soil temperatures with the establishment of Smuts finger and white buffalo grasses on a vertic soil

Abstract

Fine‐seeded grasses are established with great difficulty, especially on heavy clay soil, but the literature suggests that organic mulches may counteract constraining soil factors which result in poor germination. Various organic mulches were used in this study in order to determine the effect of soil temperature on establishment. The best results, with regard to soil temperature as well as seedling establishment, were obtained using straw. Although branch and nurse crops (weed and teff) kept soil temperatures relatively low, seedling establishment was unsuccessful on these treatments.