5 Ways Soil Changes Throughout the Year

Did you know that just like other things in Nature, soil also changes throughout the Seasons? Pretty cool right?! So how does soil change throughout the year?

1.pH- Soil pH typically decreases in the Summer and early Fall and then increases as soil moisture increases. Why is this important? Soil pH influences both the availability of soil nutrients to plants and how the nutrients react with each other.

2. Moisture- Soil moisture increases in early Spring and Summer in Southeast Pennsylvania. Why is this important? Soil moisture is one of the important steps in the hydrological cycle, which drives weather conditions, plant growth, and ground water storage to name a few.

3. Electrical conductivity- electrical conductivity (EC) levels are higher in the Summer and decline in the Winter. Why is this important? EC can indicate nutrient availability and loss. For example, if a soil has a low EC, it will lose nutrients more easily.

4. Macronutrients & micronutrients- levels of soil macronutrients and micronutrients increases in the Summer as does the level of soil organic carbon. Why is this important? Soil macro and micro nutrients are essential nutrients that plants need to complete their lifecycle. Too few macronutrients and there will be poor plant growth and potential for disease. Too many micronutrients and there may be a loss of color in the plant and reduced growth. Too few micronutrients and there will be reduced flowering and yellow-green coloration.

5. Microbial communities- Microbial life is typically more active in the Spring, Summer and early Fall in Southeast Pennsylvania. Most microbes go into a dormant stage during the colder months. Why is this important? Microbial communities enable nutrient cycling, plant growth, soil structure, and ecosystem stability.

To learn more on how to measure these factors in your soil to optimize growing success, contact Soil Organic Solutions! (cat@soilorganicsolutions.com)

References: Rohr’s Nursery, ScienceDirect, USDA.gov