I've always been amazed by the incredible response that plants show when it rains. Spectacular blooms, neon green new growth...things that aren't accomplished through tap water alone. So why do plants LOVE the rain? I heard something interesting about this and did a little more research online.
Our atmosphere is mostly composed of Nitrogen (N) and Oxygen (O), approximately 78% and 21% by volume, respectively. During a thunderstorm, lightning strikes release enough energy in the atmosphere to allow Nitrogen and Oxygen to combine to form nitrates (NO3). Raindrops pick up the nitrates and deliver them to the ground. Nitrates are commercially produced as an important ingredient in fertilizer.
So, when it rains, your plants are essentially getting a nice application of natural fertilizer.
Enjoy the rain!
[On a side note, nitrates are also the component in fertilizer that creates algal blooms in water bodies...think of the green gunk floating in Barton Springs...when it is over applied and runs off into the storm drains during a rain. A very good reason to have someone knowledgeable working on your lawn.]
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
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