Humates are the bug ‘viagra’. They are positively active as a result of their high quality
which require a period of time to further decompose in order to become active and available to benefit the soil and plants, the humate mineral content of our soil solution products are available to work immediately in the soil.
Brief History of Humates
Humus has been around since time began. The Romans were aware of it, but it was not until the 18th century that soil scientists discovered humic acids, and not until the early 1960s has science been able to find a way to analyse humus and humates, in particular its humic acid content. Research work was performed in
agricultural universities. Unfortunately, research grants were made primarily from commercial
fertiliser companies, many of which consider humates a major competitor due to the positive research
information now being extracted. For instance, if companies see that, by undertaking soil
conditioning with high quality
humate, there is a one third
reduction in the need for a fertiliser, this would lead to
serious effects on their business. Therefore, the effectiveness of humic acids has not received
publication. From a fertiliser company’s point of view it is better that you are not aware of humates, otherwise you may get interested in the one or two high quality products that have come onto the market in the past few years.
Humates time has now come. More and more turf managers are becoming aware of these products. Today’s public is aware of the effects of chemicals and fertilisers on the soil and the soils population and, of course, of humus. The fact is that our soils are becoming even more depleted in essential nutrients.
During my day to day agronomy I see
more toxic material ever present in the soil. Blacklayer, just to mention one specific problem, is seen in all sporting environments. Scientific research has shown that humate can restore the vitality of the soil and increase the soil capacity to retain moisture and even help chemical fertilisers become more effective. By participating in a soil amelioration programme you are doing your part, as a professional and caring turf manager, to help your environment as well as improving the health and well being of your working environment.
Tell me more!
Intensive agricultural and horticultural systems demand the use of large quantities of mineral fertilisers in order to satisfy the plant’s needs with essential basic micro and macro elements such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). In doing so, we often forget that mineral fertilisers are for plants. With such systems you can see immediate high results but tend to ignore the future consequences. The higher the amount of mineral fertilisers used the more intensive is the erosion of the soil, the poorer the soils humus content and the environment is more polluted. The problem of effective mineral fertiliser assimilation is critical in plant growing. The difficulty of its solution lies in the fact that water soluble potassium and nitrogen fertilisers are easily wasted from the soil, while, on the contrary, phosphorus fertiliser bonds with ions of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), aluminium (Al) and iron (Fe) that are present in the soil to form inert compounds which are inaccessible to the plants.
However, the presence of humic substances substantially increases effective assimilation of all mineral nutrition elements. Tests have shown that humate
treatments (with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) greatly improve the plant’s development and the capacity of the sward to tolerate all detrimental factors, while decreasing the use of the mineral fertiliser (V. Kovalenko, M. Sowko 1973). The tests with humate, particularly on phosphorus, achieved an unexpected positive result. Phosphorus, previously locked within the fibre content of the sward, is now being released to the plant. This is significant as many greens and fine turf areas have, over the years, received an excess, promoting severe problems such as Poa Annua (Annual Meadow Grass). Therefore, the combination of high humates and mineral fertilisers
guarantee totally effective assimilation of plants.
Consequently, treating your sward and
environmental situation, particularly the plants, with humates of a high humic acid concentration ensures their continuous nutrition with vital macro and micro elements.
Humates - Microorganisms working in partnership
Microorganisms granulate the soil and this aerates it to facilitate the infusion of water and air. The depth of aerated top soil determines the quality and quantity of the local microorganism and the life compounds they make available to the plant.
In simple terms, microorganisms are the cement mixers of life, they “eat and poop”. The more they eat the more they poop. They break down high molecular elements into low molecular elements, which the plant’s roots can now pull from to use throughout their processes. This eating and pooping ensures nutrients are made available to the plant by the root biomass and not leached from the soil.
Microorganisms are essential for health and well being.
Humates are the bug “viagra”. They are positively active as a result of their high quality. In fact, a bacteria will go through its full life processes within a twenty-four minute period. Taking account of this factor, by feeding the correct “viagra”, i.e high quality humates, a gramme of soil will possess over six million microorganisms. In twenty-four hours this same population will drastically increase in excess of thirty million, thus resulting in a very inexpensive method of improving fertility and nutrient management. In fact, many other benefits have been recognised as a result of such harmony. Microorganism activity in one acre of soil uses about the same amount of energy in soil preparation as 10,000 people would burn for carrying out the same work, for the same period of time. Microorganisms must be protected and nourished and replaced in the event of death.
Mycorrhizal Fungi (The Good Guys)
Mycorrhizal fungi are short lived, surviving less than two weeks before being digested by the host plant. Humates and Mycorrhizal fungi serve
as predatory parasites, with a network trapping service to catch and hold pathogenic parasites. Together they amplify growth, intensify plant development and minimise water loss and drought. They intensify absorption of minerals and trace elements and
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