Why can the water you use for irrigation affect the pH of the substrate?

05.04.2019

The selection of the right substrate is extremely important in any plant production scenario. Even more critical is its importance in a greenhouse context of potted plants, where substrate is one of the main factors that allows plants to be good, healthy and profitable.
It also supplies plants with nutrients, air and water for maximum root growth.
Having an inadequate pH in your substrate can cause, among other damages, growth disturbance or leaf necrosis (brown or dead tissue) or chlorosis in plants.

That is why, once you have selected the most suitable substrate for your crop, you must take into account the following considerations in the water you use for irrigation. Otherwise, the quality of your crop will be compromised.

pH affected

The pH of your substrate can affect the overall health and quality of your crop. If the pH of the substrate is not within the acceptable range for the crop you are growing in, you may experience deficiencies or phytotoxicity depending on the crop and macro or micronutrients may be affected.

Many times we hear the comment that the pH of a particular crop is high and that the pH of the irrigation water is the culprit, when in fact it is the alkalinity of the irrigation water that will tend to raise the pH of the substrate.

The pH of your substrate is most affected by the alkalinity of your irrigation water. Irrigation water that is alkaline contains bicarbonates, and the more bicarbonates, the higher the alkalinity. As crops are irrigated over time, these bicarbonates will increase the pH of the substrate.

Alkalinity

When growers irrigate with alkaline water, they essentially add small doses of bicarbonates or lime to the substrate and thereby increase the likelihood of raising the pH of the substrate.

This becomes even more important the smaller the area of application, since, logically, the pH can rise more rapidly in smaller containers.

In some cases, irrigation with alkaline water may not affect the crop: bicarbonate levels may not be sufficient to increase the pH of the substrate, and in short-term crops, there may not be enough time for the pH to increase or the plant may be more tolerant to high pH and not show any symptoms. However, monitoring and knowing the alkalinity of our irrigation water will help us to be proactive and allow us to take measures that will prevent future problems.

Be aware of all of these factors and be sure to have your water tested to prevent these problems from occurring, especially if you suspect highly alkaline irrigation water.

substrate-ph-water-watering-water

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