Seasons of Soil Microbes
Microbial activity in agricultural soils varies between and throughout the different seasons.
Seasonal dynamics are a major driver of soil microbial communities and specifically, temperature, moisture content, and the existence of plant life are considered the most important factors affecting microbial growth and activity within a season.
Temperature can be both a limiting factor and a stimulant of microbial biomass and activity. Generally, microbial biomass is lesser in colder temperatures than in warmer temperatures, due to moisture intake capabilities. However, researchers have found that once temperature increases past a certain point, microbial biomass can decrease. In the warmer or hotter seasons, the addition of vegetative cover or cover crops can help to partially manage how much heat the soil is absorbing. Cover crops are encouraged for numerous reasons, including soil temperature management, but also for their ability to increase microbial biomass and diversity.
Plants and the soil microbial community have a symbiotic relationship which allows the plant to feed the microbial community, as the microbes provide the plant with essential nutrients to stimulate its growth. The exact dynamic between plants and their microbial communities is still being investigated as there are many different factors and conditions that play a role in their relationship. This can make it difficult for farmers and researchers to make definitive statements or assumptions regarding the relationship between soil microbial communities and seasonal changes. Therefore, documenting and analyzing periodic readings with microBIOMETER® can assist you in differentiating between natural and seasonal changes in your soil.
Seasons of Soil Microbes