When winter comes and fields across the Prairies look more like the North Pole than farmland, it’s easy to think that everything under the soil goes to sleep. But crops, weeds, and pests may slow down, soil microbes keep working. The soil under snow can be surprisingly active. Think of your field as Santa’s workshop and the microbes are the elves. They may be quiet and hidden, but they are still getting things done. In this week’s edition of Growing Possibilities, we look at what happens in this hidden workshop and how it affects the soil.
One big helper for microbes in winter is snow. Snow acts like a blanket, keeping soil from extreme temperature changes and gives bacteria a stable home. Research shows that snow helps soil microbes stay alive and healthy through the cold season (1). Even when the air is –30°C (–22°F), microbes under a few inches of snow may only feel –1 to –5°C (30 to 23°F). Still cold, but they can survive!
Winter isn’t always gentle. Freeze–thaw cycles can stress microbes, break cells, and slow them down. But many microbes bounce back quickly. Studies show bacterial communities change during winter, but their overall work often keeps going into spring (2). When the soil warms, microbes are ready to start breaking down nutrients and organic matter, just like Santa’s elves getting back to work after Christmas Eve.
Some microbes even stay a little active below freezing. Tiny films of water in the soil let them keep going. Research from Arctic soils shows that microbes can still respire under 0°C. Winter microbes help start nutrient cycling before spring, protect soil organic matter, and keep soil structure healthy (3). In short, they don’t sleep, but they quietly get your soil ready for next year’s crop.
You won’t usually put inoculants on the soil in winter, but the work you do during the growing season matters. Microbes in products like Bacillus can form spores and protective coatings, helping them survive cold temperatures (4). These microbes keep working through winter and bounce back faster when it warms. Products that help break down organic matter or improve soil structure also create spaces that trap air and water, helping microbes survive winter (5). Building a strong biological foundation before freeze-up gives your soil a head starts in spring.
Planning for winter microbes can help you use biological products better. Applying XiteBio’s phosphorous-solubilizing ag-biologicals like XiteBio® Yield+, XiteBio® Tuber+, and XiteBio® Vegi+ during harvest or residue work feeds microbes over winter and improves soil for spring. Healthy microbes in spring give your soil a boost. It’s almost like Santa delivering nutrients early, powered by XiteBio Technologies.
From all of us at XiteBio, happy holidays and wishing you a healthy, productive new year!
References
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969724052161?utm_
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13717-021-00337-x?utm_source=
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40168-021-01154-2?utm_
- https://enviromicro-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1751-7915.12107
- https://www.nature.com/articles/nrmicro.2017.87