Both mulched treatments significantly increased the topsoil temperatures throughout the whole growing season in both years (Fig. 3). Compared with the CK treatment, the total cumulative temperature (TTSoil) was 153◦C and 219◦C higher in 2010 and 2011, respectively, for the GM treatment and was 151◦C and 176◦C higher in 2010 and 2011, respectively, for the FM treatment