An agricultural greenhouse with natural ventilation in Thailand has to deal with high temperature. This problem shows the necessity of having a tool capable of predicting soil temperature and moisture in the greenhouse using the statistical data from the meteorological station. Rice husks were used to cover soil in the greenhouse to reduce soil temperature and maintain soil moisture. Soil temperature and moisture with and without rice husks were compared. The model that would justify and be capable of simulating the complexity of the temperature and moisture of a greenhouse was developed and validated again using experimental data. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.