Rainwater is the best source of water for plants and it is worth noticing that they prosper with a positive aura around them reflecting enhancement on their growth.
It is particularly beneficial for a plant's overall well-being due to its composition, nutrient-rich contents, and delivery method. Follow us as we discuss the benefits of rainwater for plant growth!
Rainwater is a pure form of water without any potentially harmful additives. It is free from salts, treatment chemicals, and other unwanted minerals which is why plants thrive upon receiving them.
Being a pure hydration and a clean and soft water source for the plants, rainwater helps them to flourish vigorously in their most natural form giving unique responses such as healthy and vivid stems, happy blossoms, and increased growth in stature.
Most plants are grown organically with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 in their soil which falls inside the exact pH range (5 to 6) of rainwater. It is on the acidic side of the neutral pH 7.
This organic acidity promotes the growth of plants in their most natural form. On the other hand, the pH of different types of water is frequently changed by additives, which is not considered beneficial for some species of plants.
Rainwater is considered as nature’s fertilizer as it carries essential components, such as nitrogen which plays a crucial role in the overall development of the plants. Nitrogen is a vital component that helps plants during their photosynthesis.
When the rainwater carrying these nutrient-rich content seeps into the ground, the roots of the plants absorb these organic nutrients resulting in attractive vegetation growing healthy foliage and beautiful blossoms giving a productive plant.
Just like us plants need oxygen for cellular respiration and of course, survival. Oxygenation of soil is the process of adding oxygen to the soil which is crucial for the health and functioning of both plants and soil microorganisms.
Rainwater helps oxygenate the soil by moving the air and enabling oxygen to get to the roots of plants. This will help to enhance the soil ecosystem and promote the growth of healthy plants.
One of the best ways to promote the sustainability of plants is through rainwater which minimizes the dependency on treated water sources for irrigation and cultivation. Additionally, It enhances deep-root development promoting the lives of plants.
Rainwater is a sustainable option for every one of us to use naturally available rainwater with its effective delivery and distribution system for households and farms. It helps to reduce the burden of utilizing various other sources of energy and methods of watering the crops.
The concentration of dissolved salts in water is referred to as salinity. Rainwater contains salts from both natural and man-made sources. However, these salts are typically found in very small concentrations, TDS of 20 mg/L or less.
Excessive salinity can harm plants and make it more difficult for them to absorb nutrients. One of the most beneficial characteristics of low salinity makes the rainwater perfect for irrigating plants and preserving the health of the soil.
Rainwater is an essential resource that supports soil microbial life to maintain a strong and productive soil ecosystem. It has been found that a light rain can spread soil bacteria far and wide which later helps in preserving soil fertility.
Rainwater contains useful microorganisms that are responsible for supporting the fertility of the soil and encouraging the growth of plants. Thus, it is a promising factor to prosper the overall soil ecosystem.
Rainwater plays a crucial role in developing resilience to drought by supporting the deep-root development of the plants and improving soil moisture retention. It seeps into the soil and restores groundwater, giving plants a vital supply of water during periods of drought.
It has been known that planting trees on barren plains and lands prevents the drought and now, we also know that they possess this characteristic strength from the support of rainwater.
We can lower the amount of treated water used for cultivation purposes by gathering rainwater and using it for specific purposes. People have been spending significant sums of their money on irrigation and watering the cultivated crops.
If we are to achieve a desirable rainwater harvesting technique that is entirely based on your yard or garden then we can minimize the investment done in the field of irrigation. This will eventually help the farmers save significant costs.
When plants get watered with rainwater instead of other water sources, they tend to possess stronger growth phenomena and appealing colors ensuring enriched vegetation from all aspects.
Gardens and landscapes will be more attractive as a result of this aesthetic improvement, making them better places to get away and have fun. This has been found to attract beautiful birds, useful insects, and animals as well.
The pH level is a common term used to describe the acidity level. It ranges from 0 to 14 with 7 being neutral. Rainwater is slightly acidic having a pH between 5 and 6 due to the presence of dissolved carbon dioxide which forms carbonic acid.
On the other hand, different human activities and agricultural practices release pollutants into the atmosphere that can cause raindrops to become more acidic, a phenomenon known as acid rain. The acidity of rainwater plays a crucial role in a plant’s overall growth and health.
Human activities during different industrial processes, power plants, and automobiles induce harmful sulfur dioxides and nitrogen oxides that react with water vapor in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid.
These pollutants are responsible for making the rainwater more acidic. Similarly, during agricultural practices, the extensive use of nitrogen-based fertilizers is found to release ammonia which is also a primary factor to cause acid rain.
We can never run with our plants away from acid rain, however, we can do our best by preventing the acid rain from falling on them directly.
In the case of, large plants and trees which grow and flourish outdoors, it seems impossible to do so but with the sensitive and tender ones, it is recommended to grow them under the large established trees.
Also, you might want to consider transferring these types of plants under some sort of covering or shade to protect them from direct acid rain. Another thing is to inspect the soil every 6 to 12 months so that we can know its pH levels and proceed to add the right nutrients and minerals.
Collecting, storing, conveying, and conserving rainwater for future use is known as rainwater harvesting. Although it is a traditional technique in the agricultural sector, it has been occurring in the limelight in the present world because of the challenges brought by the scarcity of water and as a part of sustainable solutions.
Harvesting rainwater and its proper use can certainly bring environmental and economic benefits.
Surface runoff harvesting is concerned with the collection of rainwater from the surfaces of roofs, land, and other impermeable surfaces for the intended use. These are best applicable in urban areas where rainwater fails to seep into the ground.
Harvesting rainwater in such a way and storing it in a properly systematic manner using big tanks and containers can be very beneficial to the entire community. People can easily utilize this water for different agricultural purposes which will certainly enhance the water security.
Rooftop harvesting is limited to the storage of rainwater that has been stored from the rooftops of the buildings and houses.
Being one of the simplest, and easiest methods of rainwater harvesting, this method has been helping people throughout the world in the best possible way of cost-effectiveness. People have been using the water after proper treatment for different households and agricultural purposes.
Rainwater harvesting, being an ancient technique still possesses the quality of showering benefits to mankind. They can play a crucial role in helping cope with the problems that have triggered the potential water scarcity and unmanaged water resources. Here are some of the important reasons for promoting rainwater harvesting:
Rainwater harvesting is one of the best possible methods to conserve water and energy.
It reduces the demand for conventional water sources such as rivers and underground water which further minimizes the environmental impact resulting from the need to treat and process water.
Harvesting rainwater will ensure the enhancement of water security.
Particularly in areas where water is scarce, people can adopt any suitable method of harvesting rainwater and utilize it after the treatment for several different purposes including bathing, cooking, and irrigation minimizing the dependency on other sources.
Rainwater harvesting is a sustainable practice that empowers the community through the conservation of water, energy, and the environment promoting the well-being of future generations.
Ensuring the balance in the ecology, rainwater harvesting helps to combat the disasters aroused by floods, landslides, and soil erosion while reducing the economic burden resulting from them.
Groundwater recharge, a method of rainwater harvesting helps to improve the availability of water in the wells, and boreholes by the application of artificial recharge technique. It is responsible for improving the quality and quantity of the groundwater.
They take the help of the aquifers to complete their recharging process. An aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing material which may include rocks, sand, or gravel.
Collection of rainwater to store for watering your plants is another thing you need to learn for the best possible way to keep your plants hydrated. Besides only taking some of your time to build such container, it is an easy and cost-effective method that you should not ignore.
Here is the guidance you need to keep in mind while storing rainwater for your plants.
There are varieties of plants in the world from growing in your yard to the wild forest area. Each of them doesn't need to require the same frequency of watering. Therefore, the watering technique majorly depends on the type of plants.
Many professionals have suggested that watering plants once or twice a week would do good for their deep-root development. Similarly, drip irrigation has been favored by many edible plant cultivators where water is allowed to drip slowly to the roots of the plants with the help of tubes and emitters.
We are aware that water plays a significant role in the lives of plants and it is just as important that we need to be aware when to water them.
Some generous plants can show for themselves that they need water. But this is not the case in every one of them, different plants thrive in different environments having different needs regarding water, soil, and temperature. In light of this, here are some important things to consider before watering the plants:
It has been recommended that morning and evening are the best times to water the needy plants as morning helps to prepare the plants for the entire day while evening settles the day.
Morning watering is even preferable to evening watering because the plant has plenty of time to dry before the sun goes down while retaining enough water for itself.
We should consider our plants as ourselves who get dehydrated in the scorching heat and some refreshing water is all we ask for. If the soil is dry then it is the ultimate signal that the plant needs plenty of water to ensure its growth.
In general, moist and well-drained soil is what plants thrive for.
The life of a plant also determines the frequency of water it needs. Therefore, it is vital for you the time, when you plant any plant in your yard or garden.
Young and tender plants need extra caring and watering for them to establish in the region with a healthy root system while old plants don’t need water often since they are more likely to develop their root deep under the ground after having remained at a place for some period.
With time you will notice the plant’s growth and responses. If you ever encounter unusual responses from your plants like leaves turning yellowing or browning, petals dropping, or not flowering, these are the indications that your plant is not happy and healthy.
You might have over or under-watered it. Therefore, make a habit of watering both yourself and your plant early in the morning!
