“Growers typically like RO systems s m e t s y s O R
e r o m r o f w o l l a y e h t e s u a c e b because they allow for more
. s t n e i r t u n t n a l p f o g n i s o d e t a r u c c a accurate dosing of plant nutrients.”
In a wide variety of crop plants, contaminated water
may lead to all levels of detriment to a plant. It may
manifest itself as deformities, aesthetically displeasing
plants (detrimental if the aim is to sell them) such as with
salt buildup leading to burning of leaf margins, slow or
stunted growth, and the possibility of plant senescence and
ultimate death. High levels of solids/salts in irrigation water
can also injure plant roots, which will in turn interfere with
water and nutrient uptake. Water-borne bacteria that cause
root rots and other fungal problems can be eliminated or
greatly reduced by using an RO system.
In soil culture or in soilless media, the organic matter and
some of the inert materials can act as a buffer to collect
or absorb some of the contaminants that RO can help to
reduce or eliminate. This does not mean no contaminants
can or will be transferred, but less so than in growing
systems, such as hydroponics, where the water comes
into direct contact with the plant roots. For this reason, RO
systems are heavily used in professional and commercial
hydroponic operations unless frequent, routine water
quality testing proves it’s not needed.
Growers typically like RO systems because they
allow for more accurate dosing of plant nutrients. If the
irrigation water starts out with near-zero levels of particles
and dissolved solids, such as with RO water, then it
should have an electrical conductivity (EC) measure of
zero. This means the grower does not have to guess which
ions are already in the water that could bind with, and
render useless, some of the added nutrients or act as a
force multiplier and cause nutrient toxicity because of a
buildup of any particular nutrient.
Growers and homeowners alike need to beware of the
potentially corrosive nature of RO-treated water. Some of
the dissolved calcium and magnesium in hard, untreated
water acts as a buffer against corrosion of pipes. With
hardness removed from the water, treated water can eat
away at copper or galvanized pipes much faster than
if it were untreated. For this reason, growers need to
make sure if they are irrigating with RO water that their
watering lines can tolerate relatively pure water.
t o d n a s t o r t o o r e s u a c t a h t a i r e t c a b e n r o b - r e t a W “
Maximum Yield
63