Thermal Dynamics in Agricultural Soils under Different Vegetative Covers in Coastal Ecuador

Global shifts in climate patterns are exerting growing pressure on agricultural systems, particularly in equatorial regions where crop productivity is directly tied to microclimatic conditions. This study investigated the relationship between ambient temperature and soil temperature under three surface conditions - bare soil, dry organic mulch, and live grass cover - using six years of continuous data (2015-2020) from tropical agricultural lands in coastal Ecuador. Soil temperature was measured at 20 cm depth, and the analysis integrated descriptive statistics, linear regression models, and Pearson correlation coefficients to quantify the interaction between air and soil thermal behavior. Additionally, the Mann-Kendall test and Sen's slope estimator were applied to detect temporal trends. The findings revealed statistically significant correlations between ambient and soil temperatures across all conditions. However, soils with vegetative cover demonstrated greater thermal stability and lower variability, highlighting their moderating role. Notably, a consistent downward trend was detected in both ambient air (-23.22%) and in soils with grass (-32.63%) and mulch (-28.54%) cover. These patterns suggest that vegetative layer's function as passive thermal regulators, buffering soils against climatic fluctuations. These insights have practical implications for agricultural and agro-industrial management. By promoting soil protection strategies, such as mulching or live cover maintenance, it is possible to mitigate thermal stress, optimize resource use, and enhance system resilience. Continuous soil-climate monitoring is recommended to guide adaptation efforts and ensure sustainability under future climate variability.