THERMAL REGIME OF LEACHED CHERNOZEM UNDER CUCURBITS CROP IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE ALTAI PRIOBYE (THE OB RIVER AREA OF THE ALTAI REGION)
Soil temperature greatly affects the development of the root system of vegetable crops and the activity of microorganisms. The greatest effect on the periodic sequence of soil thermal regime is produced by meteorological factors. In addition, soil temperature is affected by the vegetation that shades the soil surface. All of this determines the warm-up dynamics of chernozem genetic horizons. The studies revealed that chernozem profile in a fallow field was warmed-up more intensively, but moisture evaporation from its surface was increasing and that prevented moisture conservation particularly in the second half of the growing season. The foliage of the vegetable crops reduced the diurnal temperature fluctuations thus forming a stable temperature background. During cooling periods the vegetation also reduced the intensity of the turbulent heat exchange between the soil and the atmosphere.