Snowfall at Flying Hat Ranch February 11, 2010 (Click to enlarge)
I did not know until today and I think it true. Snow and hail capture more nitrogen in flake and stone than raindrop. Grass and crop grow intensely after snow and hail. Heavy hailstorms on bayous and ponds deplete oxygen. Fish die. This was told to me by a rancher from Coleman County, Texas, whose family has husbanded cattle and horses for five generations (130 years) on the Upper Colorado River watershed. Snow and hail with more (bonded?) nitrogen are nature’s fertilizers.
South of Cisco, Texas, another rancher confirms the observation that snow or hail are fertilizers: Oh, it’s a fact. We will have good spring grass with this snow, but I don’t know what the summer will bring as we will have to wait and see.
Sage to Meadow 
Perhaps this is one reason, beyond the obvious fact that the snow creates lots of moisture here in the desert, that after a wet winter we have spectacular blooming of the cacti in May. Since we’ve had 193% of average snowfall this winter, I’m expecting a beautiful desert spring! Small payment for the annoyance of living in high desert clay mud for three months!
193% average snowfall! I bet you do have a beautiful desert spring. Take several Kodak moments, will you?
I love hearing knowledge from someone’s experience. Thanks for sharing that.
Yes. I was just commenting to the rancher (Randy Golson) about the snow when he dropped the comment about it being a fertilizer.
I didn’t know this either Jack. Very interesting.