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Global warming will likely affect carbon cycles in agricultural soils. Our objective was to deploy infrared (IR) warming to characterize the effect of global warming on soil temperature (T-s), volumetric soil-water content (qs), and intrarow soil CO2 efflux (F-s) of an open-field spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Yecora Rojo) crop grown in the semiarid desert Southwest. A temperature free-air controlled enhancement (T-FACE) apparatus using IR heaters maintained canopy air temperature above 3.0-m plots by 1.3 and 2.7 degrees C (0.2 and 0.3 degrees C below the targeted set-points) during the diurnal and nocturnal periods, respectively. A randomized complete block (RCB) design with two IR warming treatments (i.e., Heated; Reference) in three replicates was planted on 10 Mar. and 1 Dec. 2008. Intrarow Ts, qs, and Fs were measured from emergence (bare soil) up until inflorescence emergence (canopy closure). Under ample soil water supply with high theta(s), midday Fs was 10% greater in Heated [4.1 mu mol (CO2) m-(2) s(-1)] compared with Reference [3.7 mu mol (CO2) m(-2) s(-1)]. In contrast, as the soil dried and qs decreased to a greater degree in Heated compared with Reference, a 10% decrease in Phi(s) occurred in Heated compared with Reference. Overall, qs had the greatest impact on Phi(s), whereas it was responsive to Ts only under high theta(s). Accurate predictions of global climate change effects on Phi(s) in agricultural soils require that interactive effects of T-s and theta(s) be coupled. Infrared warming with T-FACE proved to be an effective experimental methodology to investigate these interactive effects.