2.3.2. Soil water content, soil temperature and soil pH
Soil moisture was determined gravimetrically to a depth of 2.0 m in increments of 0.2 m before sowing and in the middle of each growth stage. Soil temperature was recorded daily at 0.1 m depth at 08:00 h, 14:00 h and 20:00 h. The mean daily soil temperature was calculated as the mean of the three daily readings. Soil pH was measured in an aqueous extract (1:2.5).