Humic acid improves soil by enhancing soil structure, increasing nutrient uptake and retention, and stimulating microbial activity. It makes soil more porous and helps it hold more water and nutrients, while also improving the soil's ability to bind and make essential micronutrients available to plants through a process called chelation. Additionally, it feeds beneficial soil microbes, boosting the overall health and fertility of the soil.  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Soil structure and water retention 
  • Improves soil structure: Humic acid creates a more porous, loose structure, which reduces compaction and allows for better water drainage and aeration. [1, 3, 5]  
  • Increases water retention: It improves sandy soils' ability to hold water and helps to retain moisture in the root zone, reducing the need for frequent watering. [2, 6]  
  • Reduces erosion: By improving soil structure, humic acid helps reduce erosion caused by wind and water. [1, 3]  
Nutrient availability and uptake [1]  
  • Acts as a natural chelator: It binds to essential micronutrients like iron, zinc, and manganese, preventing them from being locked away in the soil and making them more available for plant roots to absorb. [3, 4, 7]  
  • Increases nutrient retention: By increasing the soil's cation exchange capacity (CEC), humic acid helps the soil hold onto nutrients, preventing them from being leached away by rain or irrigation. [3, 8, 9]  
  • Enhances nutrient transportation: It can help facilitate the transportation of nutrients to the plant and improve overall nutrient uptake efficiency. [3, 4, 10]  
  • Boosts enzyme activity: It can positively affect soil enzymes, which helps with the overall metabolism of nutrients in the soil. [8, 9, 11]  
Microbial and plant health
  • Stimulates microbial activity: Humic acid provides a carbon source for beneficial soil microbes, increasing their population and activity. [4, 5]  
  • Promotes a healthy ecosystem: A more active and diverse microbial community leads to healthier and more fertile soil. [5]  
  • Strengthens plants: Improved nutrient availability and overall plant health lead to more robust root systems and greater resilience to environmental stresses like drought, pests, and diseases. [1, 3]  
  • Encourages earthworm activity: Humic acid attracts earthworms, which further improve soil structure and health. [1, 3, 12]  
When to Apply
  • Apply before planting or at the beginning of the growing season
     
[1] https://montysplantfood.com/es/humics/humic-fulvic-acid-agriculture/
[2] https://www.wilburellisagribusiness.com/growers-can-reap-the-benefits-of-healthy-soils-with-humic-acid/
[3] https://montysplantfood.com/humics/humic-fulvic-acid-agriculture/
[4] https://hightestag.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/WhyHumicAcid.pdf
[5] https://www.earthmix.net/post/what-is-humic-acid-and-how-does-it-benefit-your-garden
[6] https://ecogardener.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-humic-acid-in-the-garden
[7] https://ecofarmingdaily.com/build-soil/humus/humic-acid/
[8] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6700118/
[9] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yESsuIbo3Uk
[10] https://academicjournals.org/article/article1400835695_Aydin%20et%20al.pdf
[11] https://kemgro.com.au/humic-acid/
[12] https://montysplantfood.com/fr/humics/humic-fulvic-acid-agriculture/

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