Daily Staff Writer

Wintry farm fields may look dormant, but Jerry Radke knows otherwise.

The soil scientist at ISU’s National Soil Tilth Laboratory is studying the effects of freezing and thawing on soil. Changes in soil that occur during winter can affect soil and water quality, as well as springtime growth of crops.

According to a press release, Radke and other researchers are learning more about the biology, physics and chemistry of frozen soils through an ongoing experiment.

Buried vertically in plots near Ames this winter are sections of plastic pipe filled with soil. Radke periodically digs up and slices apart the frozen columns to examine changes in soil structure, water movement and biological activity.

What the researchers learn will help them develop over-winter management options for farmers that may help minimize erosion and the movement of nitrates or agricultural chemicals into water.