Modelling the mechanism of heat and moisture transfer in soil and air inside the mulch under greenhouse mulch film cover

The use of mulch cover for greenhouse soil can increase soil temperature, maintain soil moisture, and reduce the consumption of greenhouse energy. Traditional greenhouse heat transfer models primarily focus on bare soil conditions, often overlooking the thermal and moisture dynamics associated with mulching. This oversight leads to models that struggle to accurately quantify the thermal and moisture environment in modern production greenhouses. Therefore, this study constructed a thermal and moisture transfer model suitable for greenhouse mulching. The model was tested using field test data from two areas different regions in China: Beijing and Lhasa, the results showed that the simulated and measured values of the surface temperature of the mulch, the air temperature inside the mulch, the relative humidity inside the mulch and the soil temperature exhibited good agreement. Based on the established model, an analysis of the thermal balance of the mulch and soil surface was conducted, and the variations in soil temperature were explored under different absorption and transmission rates of solar radiation by the mulch. The developed model provides a theoretical basis for the selection, assessment, and management of mulch applications.