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Snow retention in the fields is one of the important agrotechnical measures that allow you to save precious moisture. However, this technique is used not only in agriculture in vast expanses, but also by summer residents on 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 to save plants from water deficiency.
This is a whole list of measures that are aimed at keeping snow in fields, plots or greenhouses. In addition to the accumulation of moisture, this complex allows you to:
- reduce the degree of wind winter soil erosion;
- protect plants from freezing;
- abundantly moisten the earth;
- increase crop yields.
Especially valuable is the method of snow retention in the steppe and forest-steppe zones in winter with rare snowfalls.
Benefits of using snow accumulation technology
Snow retention technology has been created and applied to obtain an effective result. The advantages of this technique include:
- Soil warming. Winter crops covered with snow are reliably protected from frost.
- Providing “snowy” spring irrigation of crops. With the onset of warm temperatures, the snow melts gradually and moistens even deep-seated roots. Due to the thickness of the snowdrifts, the soil spills deep enough.
- Protection of boles from sunburn, as well as cold wind that can frostbite the bark. The longer the snow lasts, the longer the protection.
- Increasing the frost resistance of plants. In a snowdrift up to 10 cm thick, each 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 warm up the thickness of the snowdrift 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 about 1 liter of melt water is obtained from 1 kg of snow. And if you melt 1 cube. m, then you can get 50-250 liters. 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 useful substances enter the 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 food supplier at the beginning of the growing season.
If you provide the necessary thickness of snow with the help of snow retention, then the impregnation of the soil occurs to a depth of 1-1,5 m. This is another plus – without moistening the soil, the introduction of the first dressings is ineffective.
How does snow retention affect crop yields?
The main effect of various snow retention technologies in the fields is the warming of the earth and the preservation of moisture in the spring. Where snow has been retained, plants do not freeze slightly, and also receive an additional supply of water. As a result of snow retention, crop yields increase. It is especially important to carry out measures to retain snow in harsh winters. Even with a slight increase in snow cover, the temperature regime of the soil improves, and the roots of plants do not experience fluctuations in the thermometer readings. As a result of snow retention, some crops are able to increase the yield by 2 times, the rest by 1,5 times.
Carrying out snow retention in the fields
The field cannot be compared with a summer cottage or a vegetable garden. Therefore, methods of retaining snow over a large area have their own specifics. The snow retention technology lies in the fact that even a small layer can be collected only in recesses or near obstacles created. It is impossible to transfer snow artificially, this happens during natural snow transfer. They are not very common during the winter, and farmers are required to pre-prepare the field. The best time for snow retention activities is the beginning of winter. Late autumn is best, before the snow cover has settled. Otherwise, you may miss some snowy days. It is also obligatory to carry out snow retention for spring crops in regions with an arid climate.
Methods for retaining snow cover are selected depending on:
- goals;
- terrain relief;
- the climate of the region;
- technical and financial possibilities.
When retaining snow that has fallen on one specific field (without transfer from others), an additional layer of 20-30 mm thick is obtained. This means that there will be up to 200-300 cubic meters per hectare. m of water.
There are various methods of snow retention. On a large field, they most often use:
- Flat-cut processing of plowing. Type of loosening with the help of cultivators for various purposes. With this type of processing, stubble is preserved on the surface of the field. Snow retention technique is useful in regions with wind erosion.
- Backstage pairs or sowing backstage on fallows. A very popular and simple method of snow retention in fields under winter crops. For regions with extremely dry summers, it is used for spring wheat. Backstage is most effective for holding the first snow on winter wheat crops. Among the most effective backstage plants, corn, mustard and sunflower should be noted. Hemp is still suitable for forest-steppe regions. The sowing of the backstage takes place in spring or summer. Then winter crops are sown across the wings in a continuous way.
- The formation of rollers. Here, an aggregate is used, which is called a snowplow-barrow. This method of snow retention among farmers is not considered effective enough due to the very small increase in snow thickness. You can clearly see how this method of snow retention is carried out in the fields in the following video:Snow retention on the fields
- Associated landings. Together with winter crops, narrow rows of plants such as rapeseed and flax are grown. The method of snow retention requires double seeding of the field. Associated plants are sown in late summer – July, early August. To prevent the growth of weeds, appropriate treatments are necessary.
The effect of snow retention techniques on crop yields was studied by employees of the Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture of the South-East. If you do not break down the obtained indicators by years with different weather conditions, then the average figures for the increase in yield per 1 ha look like this:
- winter rye – 4,1 q;
- winter wheat – 5,6 centners;
- sunflower – 5,9 centners;
- 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 the basic snow retention technologies from agricultural producers, for example, backstage, but for many years. To create them, berry bushes are planted around undersized berry crops – strawberries, wild strawberries. It is rational to use this method of snow retention on the site when growing plants that bend down to the ground for the winter period – raspberries, blackberries, chokeberries, slate pears or apple trees, gooseberries. Landings play a dual role. In summer, they save plants from the scorching sun and strong winds, and in winter they keep snow on the site. In addition, a small greenhouse effect is created, protecting plants from the first autumn frosts. Minus – because of it, the snow in the spring near the wings melts a little faster. Many summer residents use annual backstage for snow retention – beans, peas, mustard, sunflower.
The second option for snow retention in areas is the placement of shields.
There are many materials and designs. Shields for snow retention are made from willow twigs, plywood sheets, shingles, corn or raspberry shoots, boards, slate, cardboard. The optimal height of the shields is 80-100 cm.
Install shields for snow retention in continuous rows. The main thing is to take into account the direction of the prevailing winds and place the protection perpendicular to it. A distance of 10-15 m is left between two rows. Another nuance is that there should be at least 50% of gaps on the shields, solid ones will not work. Dense ones contribute to the formation of steep, but short shafts. Although many advise using slate or heavy plywood, this method requires caution. If the wind is strong, the shields can 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, shrub branches cut in autumn. They are tied in bunches, laid out around the trunks.
The next snow retention technique is to bend the plants to the ground. This option is only suitable for crops with flexible stems.
One more snow retention procedure should be mentioned – trampling down the snow around the trees. There are two completely opposite opinions on this matter. Proponents of this method of snow retention note that this is a reliable protection against frost, mice. Also, that the slow melting of the trampled snow longer moistens the soil. Opponents argue that loose snow is more useful, which retains heat better and that mice penetrate perfectly through a dense layer. Another caveat – too slow melting harms plants. The crown wakes up under the influence of the spring sun, and the roots are still sleeping. The natural processes of nutrition are disturbed.
When choosing a snow retention method, all conditions must be taken into account. There are cultures for which a thick snow cover is not suitable. These include plum, cherry, chokeberry. Around these crops, the height of the snowball should not exceed 1 m. Also, do not wrap garden strawberries. They completely hide raspberries, gooseberries and currants under a layer of snow, which can suffer from frost.
In the garden
The technology for retaining snow in the garden differs in terms. 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 the snow melts, the fertile layer of the earth does not flow down. They use stalks of corn or sunflower 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 spruce branches are laid.
After the branches are brought in, they are pulled out and shifted to a new place.
Shaking snow from 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 extra snow for plants – competent planting layout. In places where garden buildings, fences, fences are located, snow naturally lingers. There it is recommended to plant strawberries, raspberries, slate apple trees and pears, chokeberry – those plants that need snow protection. Opposite parts of the garden, where the wind blows snow, are planted with currants, honeysuckle, standard apple trees and pears, sea buckthorn. A little further you can arrange plums and cherries. In order not to harm the plants, you should adhere to the ratio of snow thickness and crop varieties. Strawberries 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 against temperature fluctuations in the greenhouse is initially. This is due to the fact that the room is closed, and the wind does not blow snow.
But in order for it to get inside, it will have to be thrown. They begin the snow retention event in November so that the soil does not freeze, and useful microorganisms, earthworms are preserved in it.
You can again sketch snow in the spring. In this case, the soil will be well moistened, which will help the plants to take root more easily. Snow retention in the greenhouse in autumn helps out when it’s time to start work, and the water supply is still turned off. Then the accumulated snow plays the role of spring watering.
Conclusion
Snow retention in the fields is considered a very effective way to save crops and increase yields. By the same method, gardeners and gardeners can significantly improve the condition of their plantings, protecting them from adverse factors.