The bright red appearance of the tomato and the soft underlying tang of the sweetness of the mango; a good harvest rewards all your efforts. So, when their growth is hindered and stunted due to the unavailability of sufficient nutrients, it leads to loss of resources.
To ensure that plants can maximise their absorption of nutrients from the soil, liquid humic acid is used. In this blog, we will see how humic acid works as a soil conditioner and how to apply it in different ways.
What is Humic Acid?
Humic acid liquid is a high-quality compost that can be added to various parts of the plant at various stages. They are specially manufactured through the following processes:
- Raw Material Extraction
The liquid humic acid is mainly extracted from leonardite, also known as brown coal, which has a high humic content. By humic substances we mean complex organic compounds formed by the slow decomposition of dead plants, animals and microbes. After extraction, the leonardite is dried and ground into powder.
- Alkaline Extraction
This powder is then mixed in an alkaline solution that dissolves its substances into the solution. So now you get a dark brown liquid rich in nutrients and compost.
- Separation
Once the mixture is settled, the insoluble residues like sand and ash get collected at the bottom. Then the solution is filtered or centrifuged to obtain a pure humate solution.
- Stabilisation
The filtered solution is again adjusted to the optimum pH for long-term storage. Once adjusted correctly, it also prevents precipitation that can produce insoluble clumps of humic substances that can block irrigation lines and nozzles. Additional fulvic humic minerals may be added to enhance the effectiveness of the humic acid solution.
How Humic Acid Helps in the Growth of Plants?
Humic liquid acid is not itself a fertiliser in the sense that it does not supply nutrients directly like nitrogen and phosphorus. What it does is open pathways that make the nutrients already present in the soil work better. It does so in the following ways:
- Improves Soil Structure
Humic molecules loosen compacted soil by binding to calcium, magnesium and sodium ions. They get bonded lightly, which promotes their release near the plant roots. When the soil is not clumped together, it facilitates root aeration, which is a process where oxygen from soil air spaces diffuses into the root zone.
- Increases Nutrient Availability
Humic acid forms stable chelate complexes with ions such as iron, copper and many more essential nutrients. This prevents their precipitation, which can reduce their efficiency. This makes more nutrients available for the plant to use. The humic substances have a high cation exchange capacity that enables them to hold these ions effectively and slowly release them near root surfaces.
- Plant Growth
The components of humic liquid exhibit auxin-like effects that stimulate root elongation and root hair density. This, in turn, leads to more absorption of nitrates and phosphates, which cumulates to promote overall plant health.
- Enhanced Photosynthesis
By improving the supply of Fe²⁺ and Mg²⁺, the humic acid facilitates the production of chlorophyll. This increases the rate of photosynthesis, elevating overall plant vitality.
Different Methods of Humic Liquid Acid Application
Since the use of liquid humic acid is versatile, it is introduced into the plant system in various ways. Each method targets a different interface of the plant, which is stated as follows:
- Soil Application
In here, humic acid is directly introduced into the soil through irrigation or drenching. Its amount should be approximately 5 to 20 litres per hectare, or L/ha. It is usually introduced during the seedling, flowering and fruit expansion stages of plants such as strawberries, potatoes, and onions.
- Foliar Spray
A low concentration of humic acid is sprayed onto the leaves of a plant. The optimum concentration of liquid humic acid in 100 L of water should be in the range of 75 mL to 150 mL. This has to be sprayed every 2 weeks, as the physiological effect of humic acid is temporary and needs to be maintained.
- Substrate Application
Humic liquid acid is mixed as a substrate to potting mix or cocopeat in the amount of 0.5 to 1.5 L/m³. When applying, ensure the humic acid is evenly distributed around the emerging roots, which supports microbial colonisation.
- Seed Treatment
In here, the seeds of the plant are coated with diluted humic acid at a 0.5% concentration. This stimulates their enzyme activation and enhances germination speed.
- Hydroponic Application
A nutrient solution is made containing all essential minerals, and in it, liquid humic acid is added. This enables the water to become a nutrient carrier that enhances absorption and root membrane transport.
Conclusion
Just like the role of a catalyst in a chemical reaction, liquid humic acid functions as a soil conditioner that carries nutrients for the plant to absorb. In different regions, the conditions for plant growth may not always be perfect, but the introduction of humic acid can stabilise them. Hence, in modern agriculture, this biostimulant has become a forerunner in both conventional and soilless cultivation systems.
Jinfeng Humic Acid is one of the companies that supplies such high-quality humic liquid acid for a good harvest output.
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