Soil properties associated with alfalfa winter survival at Kamloops, British Columbia

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) survival at Kamloops Agriculture Canada Research Station decreased following the 1985–1986 cold event, when survival varied along a soil gradient. Survival was positively related to the soil's potential available soil-water storage capacity, which may have contributed to a temporary buffering of soil-temperature decline. However, this relationship was not observed following the 1988–1989 cold event, when the air-temperature drop was greater following a prolonged mild period.