Effects of Humic Acid in Agriculture
An Overview of Literature and a Review of Current Research
INTRODUCTION
Humates are an accessible raw material that can be used in agriculture. Humates are a part of soil humus and play an important role in the living organism. Modern farming practices have stripped the soil of its humus and no replacements have been used. Humic substances have not been appreciated and as a result not addressed in fertilizing practices. Today, our soils are low on these humic substances and as a result, animals and man are not receiving adequate amounts in their normal diet. Research has indicated that when soil humus percentages fall below 2%, the soil cannot provide sufficient quantities of humic materials into the crops grown for the amounts needed by the living organism.
SAFETY
Humate is a safe material and exists in all soils, plants and animals. It is natural to the food chain and plays a role in the composting of dead matter into nutrients, transfer of minerals, and other roles within the living organism. Many technical papers attest to humate’s safety. The level of toxicity on an LD-50 test of 0.536 grams per kilogram can be considered as a conformation of the harmlessness of humates (15).
DEFINITIONS
Humate: Technically this term describes the salts of humic acid. Generically it is the term given to all humic substances.
Humic Acid: Humic Acid is a long chain molecule, which is high in molecular weight, dark brown and is soluble in an alkali solution. This is the portion of the soil responsible for composting which transfers the nutrient from the soil to the living organism. This material accompanies the nutrient into the organism and performs many benefits.
Fulvic Acid: FulVIC Acid is a short chain molecule, which has a low molecular weight, yellow in color and soluble in both acid and alkali. This is the portion of the soil responsible for chelating (grabbing hold of metals) minerals and transferring them to the living organism. Fulvic acid is unique in its chelation ability as it captures life essential minerals and places an electrical charge on them for ready uptake by the organism. Toxic metals are also chelated, but are neutrally charged and have difficulty in entering a living organism. Fulvic acid also act to detoxify the body of those heavy metals that may enter it.
Ulmic Acid: Ulmic acid is that portion of the soil that is soluble in alcohol. It is a dark semi-solid material. It is not very well understood for it has limited research history.
Human: Human is that portion of the soil that is non-soluble. It is a dark brown material, extremely high molecular weight and is responsible for the soils water holding capability, crumble and electrostatic conductivity.
Humic Substance: The portion of the soil created by decaying organic matter. Humates exist in many locations around the world, but vary in composition much the same way as crude oils. They are hydrocarbons and contain aromatic and heterocyclic structures, carboxyl groups, and nitrogen. They contain fragments of DNA, RNA and possess many active hydrogen bonding sites making them very chemically reactive.
NUTRITIONAL VALUES
Nutritional analysis (27) vary with humates from different locations. Humates used in the case studies at the end of this paper contained the following: Protein, Ashh, Fiber, Carbohydrates, Nitrogen, Moisture, Ammonia, HumICA and Fulvic Acid, and trace minerals (ppm) in chelated form such as:
| Antimony | Erbium | Lanthanum | Platinum | Strontium | Yttrium |
| Barium | Europium | Lead | Potassium | Sulfur | Zinc |
| Beryllium | Fluorine | Lithium | Praseodymium | Tantalum | Zirconium |
| Bismuth | Gadolinium | Lutetium | Rhenium | Tellurium | |
| Boron | Gallium | Magnesium | Rhodium | Thallium | |
| Bromine | Germanium | Manganese | Ruthenium | Thorium | |
| Calcium | Gold | Neodymium | Samarium | Thulium | |
| Cerium | Holmium | Nickel | Scandium | Tin | |
| Cesium | Indium | Niobium | Selenium | Titanium | |
| Cobalt | Iodine | Osmium | Silicon | Tungsten | |
| Copper | Iridium | Palladium | Silver | Vanadium | |
| Dysprosium | Iron | Phosphorus | Sodium | Ytterbium |
MINERAL TRANSFER
Humates contain both humic and fulvic acids. The fulvic acid is the chelator that carries the minerals. The humic acid acts as a dilator which increases the cell wall permeability.
MICROBIAL INTERACTION
Humates are known to stimulate microbial activity. In soil testing for microbial activity, levels increased 400 to 5000 times with the introduction of humate (300 ppm) into the soil.
Bibliography:
- Experimental bases and prospects for the use of Humic Acid preparations from peat in medicine and agricultural production. Lotosh, T.D.; Nauchnye Doki Vyss Shkoly Biol Nauki, 1991; Issue 1-; Pages 99-103
- Humate lab data. Bunch, G. Southwestern Laboratories, December 1981. Midland, TX File No. C-1950-X.
Material regarding Effects of Humic Acid in Agriculture was condensed from, “Effects of Humic Acid on Animals and Humans – An Overview of Literature and a Review of Current Research”, an article available on the world wide web.