The Difference Between Humic Acid And Fulvic Acid
A Quick Overview of humic acid and fulvic acid
Humic and fulvic acids are both humic substances (along with humin). However, there are a few key differences that impact their benefits and how each are best applied. In short, they vary regarding carbon and oxygen content, acidity, degree of polymerization, molecular weight, and color. Humic acids are large molecules that function best in soil to provide an optimal growing environment. Fulvic acids are much smaller molecules that work well in both soil and foliar applications, where they transfer vital nutrients through the cell membrane of plants. They work in tandem to help boost plant help and increase crop yields.
More about Humic Acids
Humic acids are big molecules, ranging in molecular size from 10,000 to 100,000. They're dark in color and combine mixtures of carbon chains and carbon rings. (In addition to carbon, they also contain oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and phosphorus.) The exact composition of humic molecules varies by source. They're not soluble in water in acid conditions, but are soluble in alkaline solutions.
Potassium humic acids work best in the soil, where they readily unlock nutrients and bind to them, making them available for uptake into plants. And they chelate toxic metals, preventing harmful material from entering the plant.
Further, they stimulate microbial activity in soil, increase water retention, and stimulate root and shoot growth.
Humic acids also act as a dilator, increasing the cell wall permeability of plants so that nutrients can be absorbed. They're all-stars of soil, an essential component of every soil environment that help to make the whole system work better. Humic acids can be thought of as the roads, bridges, and tunnels that allow for essential exchanges between the plant and soil. (Although humic acids work best in soil, they're also vital in foliar applications, because they increase the cell wall permeability of plants, which in turn increases the uptake of nutrients.)
More about Fulvic Acid
Fulvic acids are much smaller molecules than humic acids, ranging in molecular size from 1,000 to 10,000. They're soluble in water at all pH levels, unlike humic acids, which are only soluble in alkaline solutions. There are two types of fulvic acids–potassium fulvates, which are molecules bound to minerals, and free-form fulvic acids. Fulvic acids consist mostly of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. Like humic acids, they're formed through microbial decay. They are golden in color and are more biologically active than humic acids, due to an oxygen content that is nearly twice that of humic acids.
What is the benefits of fulvic acid?
The principal benefit of fulvic acids is their ability to bind to nutrients and transfer those nutrients into plants. In fact, fulvic acids are the most effective carbon containing chelating compound known. This is due to fulvic acids small molecular size and electrical charge. (Although they're small, they can carry many times their own weight in minerals.) Fulvic acids can be thought of as the railcars that carry vital nutrients from the soil into the plant.
Humic acid and fulvic acid, which do I need?
Humic and fulvic acids are both essential for healthy plants. Using one without the other short-changes the full spectrum of benefits that the two acids provide. Further, they work in tandem to optimize growing conditions. For instance, humic acids increase the permeability of cell walls, making it easier for fulvic acids to carry nutrients into the plant. And while fulvic acids are the carrier for nutrients, humic acids make those nutrients more readily available in the soil. They also work in tandem to increase water holding capacity and stimulate root and shoot growth. Nature intended the two to work together, and we certainly recommend that same approach, whether you're applying via a soil or foliar method.
The science on humic and fulvic acids is constantly evolving, and testing methods are becoming better each year. Until recently, the two acids were lumped together and not tested separately. While we're increasingly able to differentiate the functions of each acids, there is significant crossover between the two, and it's impossible to fully differentiate them. Therefore, we believe it would be imprudent for any company to only recommend one of the acids.
Which types of humic/fulvic products does Khumic group offer?
All of our products contain both humic and fulvic acids. Our granular Menefee Humate is rich in humic acids, and helps to provide long-term stability to soil environments. Our Potassium Fulvate powder/flakes liquid products can be added as either a soil or foliar application, and include both humic and fulvic acids. Our line of seaweed products also combine both humic and fulvic acids, but they also include a premium seaweed that helps to stimulate root and shoot growth. Our new product Fulvic + EDDHA-FE 6%, which is vital for all plants and also helps to treat iron chlorosis. We firmly believe that a holistic approach, one that implements both humic and fulvic acids, is the ideal method for treating your soils and plants.
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