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Humics Explained
The information in this report is designed to inform the general public about humic substances (humates), and to help them gain accurate information about the sources and benefits associated with their use. BACKGROUND INFORMATION In the 1840’s Justus Von Liebig, the father of chemical fertilizers, found that when water soluble forms of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were added to soils depleted of organic matter, production was increased. Since that time the chemical industry, through intensive advertising, has urged the farmer to believe that artificial fertilizers were his salvation. Hence growers the world over have adopted this method as a shortcut to increased yields. However, what has been overlooked though time, is that Von Liebig and other early advocates of chemical fertilizers only intended for those fertilizers to supplement the use of organic matter, not to replace it. The mere presence of a particular chemical element in the soil is not enough. The real problem in maintaining optimum growing conditions is to have the essential elements not only present, but available when the plant needs them. The best reservoir of nutrient availability in soil is organic matter. The major component of soil organic matter is humus. The most biochemically active components of humus are the humic acids. Unfortunately, "modern" farming practices have evolved into a vicious circle of activity which tends to ignore the replacement and maintenance of humates in favor of the use of increasing quantities of chemical fertilizer, which accelerates the consumption of humus (which holds fertilizer available in a soluble form,) which in turn requires the use of yet more fertilizer to produce the same yield year after year. In the face of increasing fertilizer requirements, the grower is confronted with economic and ecological considerations that were unheard of ten years ago. The far sighted grower is beginning to change his attitude toward the soil. He has come to scrutinize the use of the chemical fertilizers more closely from an ecological and cost/benefit approach. He recognizes that if all the chemical fertilizers he put in the soil were actually being used by the plant, he could significantly reduce his fertilizer requirements, create a balanced, naturally fertile soil, and not worry about potential pollution. Today’s grower knows that the renewed presence of organic matter and humus in his soil would help produce such results. Having reached that point, he asks, "What are the fastest acting, most effective, Humate Based Trace Element (HBTE) fertilizers available?" The information in this manual is designed to help him make an informed selection. It is based on scientific research, controlled experiments, and field applications of humic substances beginning as far back as the 1920’s. The product performance and crop yield data contained herein is factual, verifiable, and scientifically reproducible.
HUMUS and HUMIC SUBSTANCES HUMUS...is the major soil organic matter component. Humus is best described as a brown to black matrix of humic substances produced by the decay of organic matter. Humic substances can be subdivided into three major fractions: Humins, Humic acid, and Fulvic acid. Collectively they function as follows: 1) They provide a physical modification of soil structure and texture, thus improving aeration and moisture holding capacity. 2) They hold minerals and macro nutrients in available and soluble forms which plants assimilate and use. 3) They provide direct plant stimulation by supplying a slow release of auxin, amino acids and organic phosphate, thus regulating hormone levels that tend to undergo rapid changes in stressed plants. 4) They serve as a substrate supporting the growth and proliferation of beneficial soil micro-organisms. Research begun over 70 years ago has produced a vast compendium of publicly available knowledge and experience that scientifically validates the need for humus. HUMIC SUBSTANCES ARE NOW RECOGNIZED BY MOST SOIL SCIENTISTS AND AGRONOMISTS AS THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF A HEALTHY FERTILE SOIL AND THE MOST IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTORS TO A HEALTHY VITAL PLANT. Unfortunately, "modern" farming practices, irrigation, drainage, cultivation, harvesting and the use of chemical fertilizers have contributed to their depletion to the point where the presence of humic substances in agricultural and commercially managed soils has become seriously low or ceased to exist. Humic substances have historically been re-generated in the soil through practices such as crop rotation, planting legumes, plowing under green manure and application of compost. These practices are time consuming and costly, and today’s economic pressures prevent growers from sustaining these practices. An analysis of this problem dictates that a rapid and economically practical solution is to identify a dependable supply of performance proven humic substances, and apply them directly to the soil and, in many cases, the plant itself. The above research also indicates that the best source of high quality humic substances is from a salt-free deposit of highly oxidized carbon called Leonardite. Such a deposit should display high concentrations of humic and fulvic acids, The material must then be selectively mined, processed, precisely blended, and granulated or powdered for optimal dispersion of soil. Humatech, inc. owns such deposits and has manufactured and sold humic based fertilizers made from its Leonardite since 1978. We encourage reviewing our product line and information and will be pleased to provide additional data upon request.
SOURCES of HUMIC SUBSTANCES
WHY ARE "NATURAL" HUMIC ACIDS BEST? Some synthetic "humic" products have been developed by industrial chemists. Most of these synthetics have been polymers of vinyl, acrylic, maleic acid, carboxymethicellulose and quaternary ammonia. A chemical analysis of their molecular features reveals that these synthetics lack many of the properties which improve soil fertility and they are frequently incompatible with plant metabolic processes. Their description as "humic" substances in the context of their use as a fertilizer ingredient is highly suspect. Further, their performance under field conditions has been very erratic. Other industrial groups have created so called humic solutions from certain alkali insoluble lignite-like coals and termed them "regenerated humic acids" or "ulmins". These "ulmins" have characteristics which are similar to humic acids derived from low grade lignite. However the term "regenerated" is a misnomer in that they are quite different chemically. There is no evidence that "ulmins" have desirable fertilizer properties.
SELECTION OF HUMIC SUBSTANCES In selecting a specific commercial humic substance, one should avoid purchasing pure humic acids and select only those humic substances that are blends of humic and fulvic acids (a pure humic acid’s larger molecular weight will impede plant uptake). One should also look for sources which supply both dry and liquid humic materials since only the highest quality dry material will perform in the field and is therefore the best possible source material for liquid extraction. A major concern must always be product quality and processing quality control. A good humic material can be destroyed by improper mining or processing. In the final analysis, the real test of any humic based substance is its performance in the field. HumaTech Inc.has mined, blended, processed and sold humic substances from their own Leonardite deposits since 1978 without one documented case of product performance failure.
THE BENEFITS of HUMIC/FULVIC ACIDS
THE MOST BIOCHEMICALLY ACTIVE AND PLANT RESPONSIVE HUMIC SUBSTANCES ARE NATURALLY OCCURRING HUMIC AND FULVIC ACIDS. THEY CAN BE APPLIED TO THE SOIL IN A DRY OR LIQUID FORM, OR DIRECTLY TO PLANT FOLIAGE IN LIQUID FORM. WHEN PROPERLY APPLIED, THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS WILL ALWAYS OCCUR WITH THEIR USE:
Literature cited 1. Burdick, E.M., 1965. "Commercial Humates for Agriculture and the Fertilizer Industry". Economic Botany, Vol. 19, No. 2:152-156. 2. Freeman, P.G., 1969. "The use of Lignite products as plant growth stimulants. Technology and use of Lignite", IC Bureau of Mines Information Circular, 8471:150-153;160;162;164. 3. Senn, T.L. and Kingman, A.R., 1973. "A review of Humus and Humic Acids." Clemson University, Dept. of Horticulture, Research Series No. 145, March. TRENDS in FOLIAR FERTILIZATION It has long been established that plant leaves and stems are capable of absorbing micro and macro nutrients through a process called foliar feeding. More recently established, however, is the fact that foliar fertilization also stimulates the plant roots themselves to become more efficient in the uptake of all nutrient requirements. Foliar fertilization is an economical way of supplementing the plant’s nutrients when they are in sort supply or unavailable from the soil. The efficiency of foliar fertilizers is 100-500 percent greater than soil applied fertilizers. Therefore, enhanced plant responses will be obtained at a significantly reduced rate of fertilizer usage. One advantage of foliar nutrition is that it often brings about immediate improvement (within hours) in plant health and growth. Improved brix readings (organic nutrients within the plant sap) can be measured 24 hours after application. Foliar fertilizers can be designed to meet a plant’s specific needs for one or more micro and macro nutrients--especially trace minerals which are required in very low concentrations. Foliar fertilizers can be prepared by using proven recipes with many different plant compatible ingredients. Conduct a brix experiment on mixes to determine plant effects. REMEMBER THAT THE FORMULATIONS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF FOLIAR FERTILIZERS HAS A SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE ON THEIR EFFICIENCY WITHIN THE PLANT AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON PLANT HEALTH. Foliar fertilization alleviates soil and water pollution compared to many of the traditional fertilization practices. With foliar fertilizers there is very little carryover in the soil. Avoid applying inorganic salts, mostly sulfates, on plant foliage, without first buffering with humic acids. Direct application of salts can cause severe plant toxicity and leaf burn. These types of salt stresses are not often recognized as being caused by unbuffered applications of salt based foliar sprays. Always apply foliar fertilizers of micro and macro nutrients in an organically chelated form. Chelates are more soluble and improve movement of nutrients within the plant. Chelates prepared from citric acid, amino acids, and lignosulfonate have value but are less effective than chelates prepared with polyphenolic acids (namely natural humic and fulvic acids). FOLIAR FERTILIZERS CHELATED WITH NATURAL ORGANIC COMPOUNDS, HUMIC AND FULVIC ACIDS FROM HIGH QUALITY LEONARDITE, ARE THE SUPERIOR CHELATORS.
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