Soil and air temperatures were monitored during one year in an olive orchard in Cordoba (Southern Spain) with three soil management systems (L = Tillage, NLD = Non‑tillage with bare soil and CC = Cereal cover crops with chemical mowing). Hourly temperature data were collected during two frost periods.
The air temperature regime was modified by the soil management systems. During the day the maximum air temperatures was recorded in CC, while during the night, air temperatures in NLD were greater than temperatures in L and CC. Minimum absolute air temperatures was registered in CC, thus the frost was more intense in this treatment. Soil in CC was usually cooler than in L and NLD. Soil surface in NLD was compacted and without organic residues, therefore thermal conductivity was higher and the soil was capable to accumulate more heat. This heat returned to the orchard atmosphere in the night, favouring a higher air temperature in NLD in comparison with other soil management systems.
The air temperature appeared to have more influence than the soil temperature on the phenology of olives trees, observing a higher flower bud development rates for the olive trees under CC.