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Snow retention in fields is one of the important agrotechnical measures that allows you to preserve precious moisture. However, this technique is used not only in agriculture over vast expanses, but also by summer residents on their plots and even in a greenhouse.
What is snow retention
The amount of snow that falls during the winter varies from year to year. Depending on weather conditions, some regions may suffer from lack of moisture. Snow retention or snow accumulation helps save plants from water deficiency.
This is a whole list of measures that are aimed at keeping snow on fields, plots or greenhouses. In addition to moisture accumulation, this complex allows:
- reduce the degree of wind winter soil erosion;
- protect plants from freezing;
- moisten the soil abundantly;
- increase crop yields.
The method of snow retention is considered especially valuable in the steppe and forest-steppe zones in winter with rare snowfalls.
Advantages of using snow accumulation technology
Snow retention technology has been created and applied to obtain an effective result.The advantages of this technique include:
- Warming the soil. Winter crops covered with snow are reliably protected from frost.
- Providing “snowy” spring watering of crops. With the onset of warm temperatures, the snow melts gradually and moisturizes even deep-lying roots. Due to the thickness of the snowdrifts, the soil flows quite deep.
- Protecting the trunks from sunburn, as well as cold winds that can freeze the bark. The longer the snow lasts, the longer the protection.
- Increasing frost resistance of plants. In a snowdrift up to 10 cm thick, every 1 cm increases the frost resistance of the variety by 1 °. For the survival of wheat varieties with low winter hardiness, it is necessary to raise the thickness of the snowdrift to at least 15 cm.
For winter crops, snow cover is extremely important, especially in the period before the onset of “critical” temperatures.
Benefits for plants
To understand the benefits that snow retention brings, it should be noted that from 1 kg of snow, about 1 liter of melt water is obtained. And if you melt 1 cu. m, then you can get 50-250 l. Melt water from snow is not only moisture, but also liquid fertilizer. With 1 kg of snow, a small amount of phosphorus and 7.4 mg of nitrogen remain in the melt water.
The main advantage of melt water from snow is that beneficial substances reach plants at the optimal time and in dissolved form. They are easily absorbed and digested. In early spring, beneficial microorganisms are not yet active due to low temperatures, so melt water is the main supplier of nutrition at the beginning of the growing season.
If you provide the required thickness of snow using snow retention, then soil impregnation occurs to a depth of 1-1.5 m.This is another plus - without moistening the soil, applying the first fertilizing is ineffective.
How does snow retention affect crop yields?
The main effect of various snow retention technologies on fields is to insulate the ground and retain moisture in the spring. Where the snow has been retained, the plants do not freeze and also receive an additional supply of water. As a result of snow retention, crop yields increase. It is especially important to take measures to retain snow during harsh winters. Even with a slight increase in snow cover, the temperature regime of the soil improves, and plant roots do not experience fluctuations in the thermometer readings. As a result of snow retention, some crops can increase yields by 2 times, others by 1.5 times.
Carrying out snow retention in the fields
A field cannot be compared to a summer cottage or vegetable garden. Therefore, methods for retaining snow over a large area have their own specifics. The technology of snow retention is that even a small layer can be collected only in recesses or near created obstacles. It is impossible to transfer snow artificially; this happens during natural snow transfer. They do not occur too often during the winter; farmers are required to prepare the field in advance. The optimal time for snow retention measures is the beginning of winter. The best time is late autumn, before the snow cover has established itself. Otherwise, you may miss some snow days. It is also necessary to retain snow in the plowed land for spring crops in areas with arid climates.
Methods for retaining snow cover are selected depending on:
- goals;
- terrain;
- climate of the region;
- technical and financial capabilities.
By retaining snow that has fallen on one specific field (without transferring it from others), an additional layer of 20-30 mm thick is obtained. This means that on each hectare there will be up to 200-300 cubic meters. m of water.
Various snow retention techniques are used. On a large field they most often use:
- Flat cutting processing of plowed land. Type of loosening using cultivators for various purposes. With this type of treatment, stubble is preserved on the field surface. Snow retention is useful in regions with wind erosion.
- Backstage pairs or sowing backstage in pairs. A very popular and simple method of snow retention in fields for winter crops. For regions with severely dry summers, it is used for spring wheat. The wings are most effective for retaining the first snow on winter wheat crops. Some of the most effective flowering plants include corn, mustard and sunflower. Hemp is also suitable for forest-steppe areas. Sowing of the wings occurs in spring or summer. Then winter crops are sown across the curtains in a continuous manner.
- Formation of rollers. A unit called a snow plow-bake is used here. This method of snow retention is not considered quite effective among farmers due to the very small increase in snow thickness. You can clearly see how this method of snow retention in the fields is carried out in the following video:
- Associated landings. Narrow rows of plants such as rapeseed and flax are grown together with winter crops. The snow retention method requires double sowing of the field. Associated plants are sown in late summer - July, early August. To prevent overgrowth weed, appropriate processing is required.
The influence of snow retention techniques on yield was studied by employees of the Research Institute of Agriculture of the South-East. If you do not break down the obtained indicators by year with different weather conditions, then the average figures for the increase in yield per 1 hectare look like this:
- winter rye – 4.1 c;
- winter wheat – 5.6 c;
- sunflower – 5.9 c;
- spring wheat – 3.8 c.
It should be noted that the effectiveness of snow retention technology depends on the weather conditions of each period of the year. An effective solution is to use a combination of techniques. The photo shows the process of implementing snow retention technology in the fields:
How to make snow retention on the site
Summer residents can also use basic snow retention technologies from agricultural producers, for example, wings, but for many years. To create them, berry bushes are planted around low-growing berry crops - strawberries, wild strawberries. It is rational to use this method of snow retention on a site when growing plants that bend to the ground for the winter - raspberries, blackberries, chokeberries, slate pears or apple trees, gooseberries. Plantings serve a dual role. In summer they save plants from the scorching sun and strong winds, in winter they trap snow on the site. In addition, a small greenhouse effect is created, protecting plants from the first autumn frosts. The downside is that it makes the snow near the wings melt a little faster in the spring. Many summer residents use annual crops for snow retention - beans, peas, mustard, sunflowers.
The second option for snow retention in areas is the placement of shields.
There are many materials and designs. Snow retention shields are made from willow rods, plywood sheets, shingles, corn or raspberry shoots, boards, slate, and cardboard.The optimal height of the boards is 80-100 cm.
Install snow retention shields in continuous rows. The main thing is to take into account the direction of the prevailing winds and position the protection perpendicular to it. A distance of 10-15 m is left between two rows. Another nuance is that the boards must have at least 50% gaps; solid ones will not work. Dense ones contribute to the formation of steep but short shafts. Although many people recommend using slate or heavy plywood, this method requires caution. If the wind is strong, the shields may fall and damage the plants. A good alternative would be a polymer mesh.
The third method of snow retention is spruce or pine spruce branches, bush branches cut in the fall. They are tied in bunches and laid out around the trunks.
The next snow retention technique is bending plants to the ground. This option is only suitable for crops with flexible trunks.
Another snow retention procedure worth mentioning is trampling snow around trees. There are two completely opposite opinions on this matter. Proponents of this method of snow retention note that this is reliable protection against frost and mice. Also, the slow melting of trampled snow moistens the soil longer. Opponents argue that loose snow is more useful, which retains heat better and that mice penetrate perfectly through the dense layer. Another caveat is that melting too slowly harms plants. The crown wakes up under the influence of the spring sun, but the roots are still sleeping. Natural nutritional processes are disrupted.
When choosing a snow retention method, all conditions must be taken into account. There are crops for which a thick blanket of snow is not suitable.These include plum, cherry, and chokeberry. Around these crops, the height of the snowball should not exceed 1 m. Also, do not wrap garden strawberries. Raspberries, gooseberries and currants, which may be damaged by frost, are completely hidden under a layer of snow.
In the garden
The technology for retaining snow in the garden differs in terms of timing. Snow retention measures begin in February, when its thickness will already be quite large. This rule especially applies to areas with a slope, so that when melting along with the snow, the fertile layer of soil does not flow down. Corn or sunflower stalks are used for snow retention, not removing them from the site, but breaking them and laying them across the slope.
In places where little snow accumulates, pine or spruce branches are laid.
After the branches are carried in, they are pulled out and moved to a new place.
Shaking snow off tree branches is another option for snow retention.
In the garden
The main methods of snow retention remain traditional - shields, spruce branches, snow rollers.
But gardeners have another option that will help save additional snow for plants - proper planting planning. In places where garden buildings, fences, fences are located, snow is retained naturally. There it is recommended to plant strawberries, raspberries, slate apple and pear trees, chokeberry - those plants that need snow protection. The opposite parts of the garden, where the wind blows the snow, are planted with currants, honeysuckle, standard apple and pear trees, and sea buckthorn. A little further you can place plums and cherries. In order not to harm the plants, you should adhere to the ratio of snow thickness and crop varieties.Strawberries can withstand a cover of no more than 80 cm, plums, cherries, raspberries - up to 1 m, sea buckthorn, apple and pear - 1.2 m, gooseberries, currants and yoshta - up to 1.3 m.
In the greenhouse
Partial protection from temperature changes in the greenhouse is initially available. This is due to the fact that the room is closed and the wind does not blow out the snow.
But in order for it to get inside, it will have to be thrown in. Snow retention activities begin in November so that the soil does not freeze and beneficial microorganisms and earthworms are preserved in it.
You can add snow again in the spring. In this case, the soil will be well moistened, which will help the plants take root more easily. Snow retention in the greenhouse comes to the rescue in the fall when it’s time to start work, but the water supply is still turned off. Then the accumulated snow acts as spring watering.
Conclusion
Snow retention in fields is considered a very effective way to preserve crops and increase productivity. With the same method, gardeners and gardeners can significantly improve the condition of their plantings, protecting them from adverse factors.
