HUMIC ACID: THE SCIENCE OF HUMUS AND HOW IT BENEFITS SOIL

Humic acid is a group of molecules that bind to, and help plant roots receive, water and nutrients. High humic acid levels can dramatically increase yields. Humic acid deficiency can prevent farmers and gardeners from growing crops with optimum nutrition.

Conventional wisdom today ignores humic acids, though, holding that it is impossible to grow and maintain an urban landscape such as a park, golf course, or lawn without high-analysis NPK fertilizers.

We must begin by understanding that there is a difference between soil organic matter and humus.

“Humus” is a general term that describes a group of separate but distinct humic substances.

“Soil organic matter” is material that is decomposing at various rates in the ground.

Applying organic matter is certainly an excellent way to remineralize a soil that has been leached or has no chemical reactions, such as with some sands. Sand with a low cation exchange capacity (CEC) has difficulty holding onto the cations of nutrients, and these cations can easily leach deep into the soil and become unavailable for plant uptake.

Sandy soils are also unable to hold onto water when arid conditions prevail and humus is lacking.

Sands reside in a condition of “feast or famine,” since water and nutrients are only available for a short time after they are applied.

Biomolecules of humus can help retain water and the ionized nutrients that are produced by the natural cycling of organic biomass, compost, or other sources of fertilizer.

The electronegativity factor of humic fulvic acids is key in developing and maintaining a healthy and sustainable soil.

The source of these humic acids in a sustainable agricultural program, organic certified farm, or urban landscape can be decaying organic matter such as compost. In essence, this is fertilizer in an organic form. It is therefore important to know the ingredient source and the nutrient analysis of your compost.

Humus is powerful stuff, and a tiny amount can produce a huge measurable result.

We have seen as little as 40 total pounds on an acre of farmland increase the yield of a crop dramatically.