美国北部平原的雪可在9至5月期间的任何时间降落,较高海拔区夏季偶而也降雪。通常晚秋和晚春雪最大。同春季或秋季期间所接受的湿雪量相比较时,雪的水分含量变化,同冬季期间所接受的干雪量有关。融雪是地表水较可靠的来源。对大平原农业来讲,雪是一个具有很大潜力的资源。生长季节开始时,适当的管理融雪,对种子萌发和出苗可利用的水分,比较晚季节管理相同的水分有较大的价值。 Snow in the northern United States can land at any time between September and May, with occasional snowfalls in summer in the higher elevations. Usually the late autumn and late spring snow is the largest. When compared to the amount of wet snow received during the spring or fall, the moisture content of the snow varies, depending on the amount of dry snow received during the winter. Snowmelt is a more reliable source of surface water. For agriculture in the Great Plains, snow is a resource with great potential. At the beginning of the growing season, proper management of snowmelt is more valuable for managing the germination and emergence of available water than for managing the same moisture in the late season.