Table 1.

Effect of 8 mulch treatments and a nonmulched control on soil temperature, percentage soil moisture, and soil pH.

Treatment	Temperature^{^z} (°C)	Moisture^{^y} (%)	pH^{^x}
Treatment	Temperature^{^z} (°C)	Moisture^{^y} (%)	1997	1998
Control	29.3^{^w} a^{^v}	19^{^u} d	6.03^{^t} d	5.86^{^s} d
Pea gravel	27.6 b	31 ab	6.44 b	6.14 bc
Crushed brick	26.2 c	30 bc	6.29 bc	6.04 cd
Carmel	26.2 c	29 c	6.29 bc	6.06 cd
River rock	25.2 d	29 c	6.47 b	6.33 b
Lava rock	24.5 d	30 bc	6.21 cd	5.82 d
Shredded bark	23.6 e	31 ab	6.82 a	6.81 a
Wood chip	23.3 e	32 a	6.81 a	6.37 b
Screened pine	23.2 e	32 a	6.13 cd	6.14 bc

↵z Soil temperature measured at 10 cm (4 in.) depth, between 2:00 and 4:00 P.M.,CST,
↵y Soil moisture measured at 6 cm (2.4 in.) depth, between 2:00 and 4:00 P.M.,CST.
↵x Soil samples for pH measurements collected at 0- to 10-cm (0- to 4-in.) depth.
↵w Data shown are means of 12 dates × 5 replications (n = 60) in 1997.
↵v Mean separation within columns by LSD, P ≤ 0.05.
↵u Data shown are means of 12 dates × 5 replications (n = 60) in 1997.
↵t Data shown are means of 5 observations. Soil samples collected on December 1, 1997, for pH determination.
↵s Data shown are means of 5 observations. Soil samples collected on June 17, 1998, for pH determination.