What are Humates

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In primary school, we learn that “matter” can be neither created nor destroyed....it just changes form.

Carbon is one of those elements that exist in all forms of life...that's why it is used to pinpoint the age of fossils and ancient ruins....that's the process of carbon dating.

Humates, which are composed of various forms of carbon, are naturally occurring material that is very rich in humified organic matter and humic substances.

Humates are now recognised as the single most productive input in sustainable agriculture. They consist of humic and fulvic acid along with the raw humates (prehistoric plant matter) from which these powerful natural acids are derived.

Humic acid is a powerful fungi promotant. Beneficial fungi (including mycorrhizal fungi) are the missing link in many soils. It stabilises nitrogen and improves nitrogen efficiency and uptake in soils. Humic acid complexes phosphate to reduce lock-ups and, as such, is also an ideal additive with diammonium phosphate (DAP) and monammonium phosphate (MAP). Humates are the only known substance with the ability to hold onto every other nutrient in the soil which enables heightened nutrient absorption. Humates contain an auxin-like growth promotant that can enhance cell division and elongation. In addition, they increase the permeability of plant cells to increase nutrient uptake by up to 40 %.

Soils that have been on conventional programs may contain excessive elements, heavy metals and toxic chemicals. Humates serve to buffer the effects of these substances, especially sodium, to lessen their stress effect on your crop.

Humates are a cost-effective and multi-purpose tool that also has pH buffering capacity to help neutralise the problems associated with pH extremes. With a Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) of 450, humates also aid in moisture and nutrient retention and improve soil structure by promoting fungi to create a crumb structure for better water and oxygen intake and improved root penetration.

Furthermore, research shows that the presence of humic substances in soil will:

increase soil water retention,
provide available carbon to soil,
promote growth of living cells (auxin-like type of hormone),
chelate cations in soil (high CEC), and
solubilise hydrocarbons into water phase (similar to a surfactant).

Humic substances are safe to the environment and all living organisms. A carbon source that can be used as a soil amendment, foliar spray and fertiliser enhancer to boost crop production, strengthen root development and improve soil quality. It can also be used as a flushing agent for hydrocarbon components in soil and as a microbial growth promoter for soil remediation and waste treatment in manure pits.

Benefits of Humates at a Glance

Benefits the health, quality, and yield of a wide array of crops, fruit/nut trees, and turf.
Can be applied directly to the soil or as a foliar spray, by itself or mixed with fertilisers/chemicals.
Works in both soil and hydroponic growing conditions.
Can be applied to compost to decrease odors and accelerate aerobic decomposition.
Can be used as a soil detoxifier.
Can be used as a nutritional supplement for human consumption and in cosmetics.
Can be used as a nutritional supplement for livestock of all kinds.
An easy to use, free-flowing and sediment-free formulation compatible for a wide range of applications.
Features a natural chelating agent which acts to convert metallic elements into available forms to ensure increased nutrient absorption.
Complexes minerals, phosphate and lime to reduce lock-up.
Enhances root development and encourages vigorous root systems which increase plant uptake of essential nutrients and moisture from the soil.
Features a CEC of between 500 & 1000 which assists with the retention and stability of both moisture and nutrients.
Acts to increase the permeability of plant membranes which, in turn, improves crop nutrient uptake.
Builds plant Brix levels thereby assisting in the counteraction of stress in plants and drought resistance.
Exercises a role in the natural detoxification of pollutants in the soil through the absorption of poisons and increasing the breakdown of toxins.

Benefits to the Soil as a Fertiliser

Greater fertiliser and chemical efficiency:

Humic acid prevents soil conditions that lead to runoff and volatilization – the molecules work to quickly increase organic matter and bind nutrients to soil particles until they are needed by plants. The humic and fulvic acid molecules stabilize the chemical fertilisers in the soil, decreasing the typical 50-80% loss that occurs in most situations. This is an obvious plus for your pocketbook and the environment!

Humic acid’s chemical efficiency boost doesn’t just apply to fertilisers, however. Due to its effect of increasing the permeability of plant cells, it can be mixed with similarly reduced rates of herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, etc for better results by using less. There is also the beneficial component that humic acid acts to bind with and break down chemical residues in the soil, decreasing their long term negative impact.

Unlocks bound nutrients in the soil for plant uptake:

While chemical fertilisers are often too unstable to stick around long enough for plants to use, minerals in the soil, both inherent and imported through fertilisers and water, often become bound and immobilized in the soil. This is a common fate of phosphorous and other critical nutrients, which “scale” in the soil in the same way they build up in water pipes, damaging the structure of the soil. Humic acid dissolves this mineral scale, which both softens the soil for plant roots and breaks the minerals back down to a plant available size.

Increased organic matter

Organic matter serves many diverse functions within healthy soil:

Improves soil structure
Buffers salts, minerals, and toxins from plant roots
Regulates soil PH

Increases Cation Exchange capacity

Cation exchange capacity is crucial for nutrient mobility and biological function in the soil.

Stimulates beneficial biological activity

Humic and fulvic acid contains oxygen in its molecular structure, and provides this oxygen to beneficial soil biology, even if the soil itself is very low in oxygen.

Healthier, stronger plants are naturally more resistant to pests and disease

It has long been observed that the healthier a plant is, the more naturally resistant to pests and disease it is. Chemical herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, etc serve to kill off the invader, but do nothing to support the long term health of the plant or the soil it depends on. Humic acid helps to boost the entire system as a whole, enhancing the plants native defenses against any type of invader.

Decreases water requirements

Humic and fulvic acid improves soil health, which in turn means crops require less water. Healthy soil with abundant biological activity and organic matter sequesters water and prevents runoff of this and other valuable resources.

Benefits to the Soil as a Detoxifier

Soil remediation at contaminated sites very often needs a customised approach because of the different content of pollutants. Various technologies exists, however the use of Humates and Fulvates can be used for the treatment of soil and water heavy metal contamination and also revitalisation of the Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) content. Humates/Fulvates can be utilised with other organic or inorganic supplements to further enrich the soils fertility and benefit vegetation or used directly as a liquid for foliage applications and treating contaminated waters.

Humates are used to chelate Heavy Metals and soil contaminants.

Two elements of humate, humic acid and fulvic acid, have been examined to determine their suitability as a remediator of contaminated soils.

Humic acid has been found to alter oils into fatty acids and sugars by chemical reactions and stimulation of microbial activities. Additionally, it is thought to act as a catalyst for soil enzymes in the degradation process. Humic acids are generically Alkaline and could be used to assist with pH buffering of the contaminated soil and also utilise the available Sulphur in its makeup and slow release to the soil and associated vegetation.
Fulvic acid has been found to be an extremely strong chelating agent with the ability to strip metal ions from the salt molecule. Fulvic Acids are naturally pH acidic and chelate appropriately in acidic conditions.

Both materials, in the presence of an adequate supply of nitrogen, stimulate indigenous microbial activity.

The usage of humates as a remediation method has many benefits that includes soil water wettability, need for less oxygen, can be used with other materials/fertilisers and microbes, ease of application and cost.

The removal of heavy metals from polluted waters and contaminated soils using lignocellulosic agricultural products such as humates has been performed throughout the world. Our Humate materials can be utilised to remediate soils that are contaminated with trace metal cyanides, Arsenic, Metal Sulphides and Copper Oxides. Our humates are also capable of other heavy metal chelating such as Zinc, Nickel, Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Chromium and others.

Benefits from Human Consumption

One area of our lives requiring much attention is great nutrition and the proper uptake of nutrients. This is actually true for humans, animals and plants alike. There is one well researched yet seldom discussed component that facilities the full uptake of trace minerals and other nutrients. The key is Fulvic Acid.

Fulvic Acid is a naturally occurring organic compound usually found in soil and plants. It is recognized for its ability to balance and energize cell life and biological processes. Fulvic Acid literally transforms minerals and other nutrients into minute molecules. Nutrient uptake is more efficient because of Fulvic Acid. With better nutrient uptake cell respiration and energy production increases helping to bring the body back to full function. Although Fulvic Acid has been well researched it is just now beginning to come into prominence.

Is One of Nature's Most Powerful Life Restorers
Promotes Electro-Chemical Balance Whether Donor or Receptor
Dissolves Minerals & Trace Elements
Forms Complex Molecular Structures
Enhances Availability
Catalyzes Enzyme Reactions
Increases Assimilation
Stimulates Metabolism
Detoxifies Pollutants
Increases Metabolism of Proteins
Catalyzes Vitamins within the Cell
Greatly Enhances Bioavailability of Important Trace Minerals
Chelates Monovalent & Divalent Elements To Which It Is Exposed

Other Benefits of Fulvic Acid

Increased energy
It's a ferocious antioxidant and free radical scavenger
Chelates heavy metals and body toxins, removing them from the system
Transports nutrients into the cells
Extends the time nutrients remain active - potentiates the availability of essential nutrients
Increases metabolism of proteins, contributing to DNA and RNA synthesis
It's a powerful natural electrolyte
Restores electrochemical balance
Increases activity of a host of enzyme systems
Helps rebuild the immune system
Increases bio-availability of nutrients and minerals

Benefits from Use as a Cosmetic

Applying peat topically onto the skin has been used for centuries to help with various skin conditions and it is now thought that the fulvic acid fraction of peat is the nutrient responsible for its skin health promoting properties.

The ‘big three’ skin conditions are eczema, acne and psoriasis and although acne usually disappears from 20 years old onwards, it can still blight the lives of many adults.

There seems to be one cause which can be applied to each of the three conditions mentioned and that is inflammation. It appears that if the inflammation can be controlled then many of the symptoms experienced by sufferers of these conditions would not express themselves.

The use of fulvic acid for many different human health conditions is gathering momentum on a daily basis and none more so than its use for skin health due to anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

Fulvic acid can also remove any toxins from the body and it is this aspect of fulvic acid that is widely researched. This may also be one of the reasons why fulvic acid is so effective especially when Contact Eczema is concerned.

Some scientists believe that it is the absence of fulvic acid in our diet, caused by non-organic farming practices, that has given rise to such conditions and getting fulvic acid back into our systems is vital not just for skin health but overall human health.

Other Benefits

Anti-Bacterial Effect
Anti-Inflammatory Effect
Detoxification
Interaction with Silica (Anti-wrinkle)

Many people spend a huge amount of money of face creams and moisturisers with little or no effect. The most effective way of preventing wrinkles is now known to be fulvic acid and silica.

Benefits from Animal Consumption

Humic acids stabilise the intestinal flora and thus ensure an improved utilisation of nutrients in animal feed. This leads to an increase in live weight of the animal without increasing the amount of feed given to the animal (Refer: Pakistan Journal of Nutrition pages 126 – 134). Diet digestibility, as a result of maintaining optimum pH in the gut increases, resulting in lower levels of nitrogen excretion and less odour.

Moreover, Humic acid is said to improve protein digestion and calcium and trace element utilisation. Humic acids should inhibit pathogenic bacterial growth and growth of moulds, thus decreasing levels of mycotoxin, which should lead to improved gut health.