Re: Chlorinated vs unchlorinated water
- To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: Chlorinated vs unchlorinated water
- From: G*@aol.com
- Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 19:22:08 EDT
In a message dated 4/16/99 6:16:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
dgs@leland.stanford.edu writes:
<< Subj: Chlorinated vs unchlorinated water
Date: 4/16/99 6:16:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: dgs@leland.stanford.edu (Dan Shapiro)
Sender: owner-pumpkins@mallorn.com
Reply-to: pumpkins@mallorn.com
To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
George - you mentioned that the chlorine in household water decreases the
microbial action in soil. Is that a tested truth? It makes sense since we
put chlorine in the drinking supply in order to kill microbes.
If it kills bacteria, is it good or bad for pumpkin plants? On the good
side, it should help suppress evil microbes. On the bad side it should
suppress the beneficial ones, but you can reintroduce those by applying
biostimulant products.
I don't think chlorinated water will effect the plant chemically, since the
chlorine is not in an uptakable form. Someone please correct me here if I
am wrong.
So, is dechlorinated water worth the bother? It requires adding an
unpressurized holding tank and a studly pump to your watering system, with
the associated wiring. A side benefit though, is that you can use a black
tank and deliver solar-heated dechlorinated water, which people say has
additional benefit.
Dan Shapiro
>>
I have heard it does suppress microbes, I believe it was on a gardening show.
I do know that you get much better growth in a garden from rainwater as
opposed to chlorinated water in the same amount. Ever notice that you can
water your lawn with minimal results and one rain shower produces much more
growth? The microbes in the soil help break down organic matter to a level
that the plant can easily take up, they also oxygenates the soil. As far as
if it's worth setting up a source of non-chlorinated water, I don't know if I
would go that far.
George
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