Also the main reason people i think use RO water is to not have chlorine But again contrary to popular belief
Chlorine is a essential element for plant growth its rather really important
and yes even with my no till grows and garden grows i always will give them a treat from tap water instead of always using rain water
Chlorine is actually one of the more plentiful elements on the entire planet. It is found all around us, abundant in soils, minerals, plants and even animals. Seawater is a major collector of dissolved Chlorine. It gathers Chlorine from corroded elements that are transported from, the continents by rivers.
But, how long have we known about this wonder element? Chlorine (Cl) was discovered in 1774, just two years prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It was discovered when a pharmacist from Sweden released just a few drops of hydrochloric acid on a piece of manganese. When he did this, there was a greenish-yellow gas that was released and chlorine was discovered. The strange gas wasn’t identified as chlorine until 1810, but that was the original discovery of the chlorine gas.
Chlorine has a number of benefits to plant growth. Many people make the common mistake of mixing up the plant nutrient chloride (Cl-) with the toxic form chlorine (Cl). Chloride is vital for many different plant functions, despite only being classified as a micronutrient. It is highly essential, combined with the element potassium (K+), for the proper function of the plants stomatal openings. Through the utilization of these two elements, the plant is able to control its internal water balance.
That is not the only role which chloride plays in plants. It also plays a very important part in photosynthesis, particularly in helping to control the hydrolysis process. It also aids in the process of cation balance as well as the transport of ions and nutrients throughout the plant system. There is even some research that shows Cl can lessen the effects of fungal infections in a way that hasn’t yet been defined. Research continues to be done on the role of chloride in plant growth. Some people speculate that Cl actually competes with nitrate uptake tending to promote the use of ammonium nitrate. This could explain the possible role that Cl takes in the suppression of some plant diseases because high plant nitrates have a strong association with the seriousness of plant diseases. The higher the amount of nitrates, the more likely that plant disease could be expected to be.
A majority of soil Cl is extremely soluble and found in the soil as the chloride anion. In that form it is extremely mobile except where it is held by soil anion exchange sites. One major factor that can affect how much Cl is available for the plant to uptake. As chloride, nitrate, sulfate, boron and molybdenum are all anions, as one is found in excess, there is less available of the other. If chloride levels in a plant are too high, there is a possibility of toxicity. Some of the signs and symptoms that accompany chloride toxicity are very similar to the problems associated with salt damage. The sizes of the leaves could be smaller in diameter but thicker. Plant growth is stunted, the margins between leaves becomes scorched.
Stubby roots, wilting, yellowing in the leaves or a bronzing are just some of the signs of a lower level of Cl. In order to combat Cl deficiencies and diseases or problems that are caused with insufficient Cl, check out the Nutrition Solutions offered by Dyna-Gro (Grow, Foliage-Pro, Bloom). This complete nutrient solution is one possible way, once you have discovered that you have a low level of Cl in your plants, to restore the balance.