What Are the Benefits of Rain Water When Growing Plants?
It's not an old-wives' tale; rainwater really is better for growing plants than water from a hose. What makes rainwater better is not just what it doesn't have, such as harmful chemicals and treatments, but also what it does have: vital nutrients. Does this Spark an idea?
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Method
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Evaporation of ocean water forms clouds. Rainwater is formed by the evaporation of the oceans and inland bodies of water. When the moisture condenses, it collects sulfur, which is essential to the formation of plant amino acids.
Essential Elements
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Rainwater makes photosynthesis possible. Rainwater is high in nitrogen, a key constituent in chlorophyll, the greening ingredient essential to the production of carbohydrates through photosynthesis.
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Chemical Process
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Lightning plays an important role. When lightning strikes during a rainstorm, it causes nitrogen in the atmosphere to combine with hydrogen, creating an important fertilizer for plants that is then carried by the rain into the soil.
Other Processes
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The miraculous process of rain. Rainwater captures the dust carried on air currents and delivers it to the soil. This dust contains important minerals and microorganisms that contribute to the breakdown of organic compounds into plant nutrients.
The Alternative
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Tap water: fast food for plants. Tap water contains salts, chlorine, fluoride and other chemical treatments that are harmful to plants.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of John Morgan Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of LASZLO ILYES Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Anita Martinz Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Ethan Hein Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Bùi Linh Ngân Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Donald Macleod
