As the conductivity of water increases, there is a proportional reduction of water available for plant transpiration since plants can only transpire 'pure' water
Aqueous samples conduct an electric current via ions that are present in the solution.
The most common ions contributing to conductivity levels are calcium, magnesium, sodium and bicarbonate.
High conductivity surface water negatively impacts plant productivity as the plants must now compete with ions in the soil for water.
Symptoms of high conductivity include slow growth, limited root development and plants that appear to be undersized.
Conductivity levels will vary with the water source: ground water, water drained from agricultural fields, municipal wastewater and rainfall.
Knowledge of water quality is critical to understanding which management changes are necessary for long term plant productivity.
Precise, easy to read measurements are therefore important.
This is available in a quality product, such as the Orion 3-Star conductivity meter and Orion conductivity probe.
The Orion 3-Star meter is packaged to provide a simple to operate user interface.
It allows up to 200 data points to be logged and is rated IP67 waterproof.
The new Orion meters and electrodes are ideal for use in the lab or field for a variety of samples, says QCL Scientific.
