The soil thermal regime is important to the soil and plant environment, being an influential factor in determining many processes in soil. / Changes in soil bulk density, soil surface reflectance and soil temperature changes with depth and time were studied theoretically and experimental as a function of variable soil properties, soil surface state, crop cover and atmospheric conditions. / A field experiment was carried out on sandy and clayey soils with each plot being subjected to a consistent tillage and fertilizer history of either conventional ploughing, reduced energy disking or zero tillage, and fresh dairy manure or manufactured inorganic fertilizer. The measured results and the quantitative models assist hopefully in identifying how soil management affects the soil thermal regime and in making cultivation management decisions. / Soil bulk density for each fertilizer type can be predicted quantitatively from input tillage energy in a linear fashion. The reflectance of the soil surface was estimated as an integrated form of the individual reflectance and the area fractions of the soil surface components, with a soil roughness correction term. This model can cover various surface situations under different schemes of soil management. A simulation model for soil temperature was developed, which can be applied to bare soil, partially crop-covered soil and completely crop-covered soil. The models can also be used as submodels or be linked to other existing models.

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