Will Watering a Plant With Different Types of Water Have an Affect?

Salinity

• Watering a plant with seawater or irrigation water with a high salinity or salt concentration has repercussions. Salt prevents plants from absorbing water from the soil. The soil appears moist, but the plant exhibits signs of dehydration. Additionally, as some of the water evaporates after irrigation, the salt concentration in the soil increases. Some plants, such as spinach and asparagus, are highly tolerant of salt in the soils, but other plants, such as beans, peas and sugarcane, are sensitive to soil salinity.

Sodicity

• Salinity describes the concentration of all salts in the water and soil, but not all salts are sodium salts. Sodicity results in a high concentration of sodium in the soil in relation to the presence of calcium and magnesium. Sodic water leads to sodicity in the soil, which causes pooling on the soil's surface and prevents water from reaching the root zone. Water is present, but plants are unable to absorb any through their roots.

pH Level

• Water's pH level influences the soil's pH level. Soil pH affects a plant's ability to take up water and nutrients from the soil. Irrigation water's normal pH range is from 6.5 to 8.4. A lower pH level makes iron and manganese more readily available to plants, which leads to toxicity. A pH level above 8.5 affects calcium and magnesium levels in the soil, which, in turn, affects the amount of sodium in the soil, causing sodic soil.

Consider the Source

• Different sources provide different types of water with different characteristics. Well water usually has high levels of dissolved calcium, magnesium and other elements affecting the pH level of the water and subsequently the soil. Municipal or city water may have fewer dissolved chemical because of the treatment and purification process, but it will also have high levels of chloride and fluoride.