What are humic acids and where are they found?

More and more growers are enjoying the benefits of using humic acids and fulvic acids to ensure better crops. Although both components are created in the same environment, they have different properties. In order to understand the role of the two types of acids in cannabis plants culture, read all the information below.

Humic acids, what are they and where do they come from?

Humic acids are complex molecules that come from organic matter’s decomposition, both animal and vegetable, and feed the various microorganisms present in the soil. It is possible to find these acids in earth humus after years of decomposition.

Most humic acids on the market come from leonardite, a humidified plant substance in an intermediate state between peat moss and lignite. It is characterised by its high richness and because it is easy to find; usually in the upper layers of open-pit coal mines.

Humic acids are obtained by dissolving an alkaline extractor of the same material origin, a black liquid rich in humic and fulvic acids is obtained. Usually, it is in a liquid state but sometimes it is also solid.

What benefits do they bring?

Humic acids offer various benefits to any type of culture:

• Increases the absorption of nutrients due to its chelating property.
• Facilitates water retention and soil drainage, as well as aeration, increasing porosity and promoting root growth.
• Improves substrate’s CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity) , which allows for longer retention of nutrients, while saving on fertiliser.
• Thanks to the accumulation of these acids, NPK fertilisers are more efficient, reducing the application but obtaining the same results.
• It favours the cell division and the transport of nutrients to the cells, so it reaches the most important points of the crop without problems. All this translates into a stimulation of the metabolism and a more satisfactory growth.
• They contribute to a healthy microbial activity.
• Reduce toxins absorption from the soil by the plants.
• Promote photosynthesis and resistance to pests and diseases.
• Increase harvest’s quality by providing a better physical appearance and a major organoleptic value, as well as increasing the cell walls of the buds.

How to apply them ?

Humic substances offer multiple benefits both in soil, by simply adding the necessary organic matter, and in a powder fertiliser such as Humic Boom from Boom Nutrients. Likewise, there are different formulations that encourage its dissolution in water and application through watering or spreading on the ground. In addition, foliar application is also an option.

Main differences between humic and fulvic acids

Most growers apply both acids at the same time, so they tend to be related in most cases. However, although they are very similar, there are some characteristics that differentiate them:

• Colour. Humic acids are darker in colour and fulvic acids have more yellowish tones.
• Water retention. Major for humic substances.
• Higher carbon concentration in humic acids.
  Higher molecular weight, due to the chemical reaction that generates bonds between molecules.
• Solubility. The former tend to precipitate, because unlike fulvic acids, they are not soluble in basic solutions.
• The time of action of humic acids is constant
• The CEC of humic acids is higher.

Effects of humic acid in the soil

Humic acids are responsible for the texture and its hydric properties:

• Heavy clay soils: increases permeability, helps aerate and improves structure.
• Light sandy soils. With a lack of organic matter, it increases the CEC and the water retention capacity, preventing the loss of nutrients.
• Acid soils. They neutralise them by immobilising certain toxic elements, such as aluminium or heavy metals.
• Alkaline soils. They buffer high pH, increasing the availability of microelements and trace elements for plants.
• Dry soils. Increase moisture holding capacity.
• Saline surfaces. Increasing cation exchange results in the release of cations and the formation of chelates, binding cations such as calcium and magnesium.

Humic acids can considerably improve the soil, bringing great benefits to the plants in which they are used. Its application is very simple and is suitable for all crops; in fact, currently there are different products containing this type of components.