What are humic acids?
Humic acids are a group of compounds created by the degradation of organic matter and are a portion of natures biological processes. Over time the deposited material has decomposed and reduced into humic, fulvic, and ulmic fractions. Humic acids are becoming a significant biostimulant to mainstream agricultural and gardening practices because of the many benefits that it contributes to the soil. Currently a crop is removed from the field and no plant material is returned to the soil. The humification process is hindered if no material is added and as a result the soil has reduced levels of organic compounds that will transition into humic acid. This process creates soils low in organic matter that may lack sufficient levels of humic acids to maintain proper fertilizer retention. Adding humic acid to a compost or fertilizer program may help increase nutrient availability and retain the nutrients in the root zone.
