Introduction to Humic Acid
Humic acid is a well-known word in the agriculture department. It is a dark brown substance formed from the decay of both plants and animals. It has a group of molecules that help the soil to yield a good crop with nutrients to the plant and roots. The deficiency of humic acid has a significant impact on the crop. So let's see and learn more about humic acid.
Characteristics of Humic Acid
The basic characteristics of humic acid are as follows.
They have more weight.
They are a mixture of multiple acids.
The humic soil is dark brown.
The humic acid structure is like chain molecules.
Humic acid is highly soluble in alkaline solutions.
It is a natural resource formed by the decomposition of plants and animals.
It is available in oceans, soils, and streams.
Formation of Humic Acid
After the death of plants and animals, several chemical molecules are formed newly and these can be eaten by different organisms like insects, bacteria, protozoa, fungi, earthworms, etc. The leftover material can stay on the soil for a longer time. After that, the decomposition of those materials will start and the humus is formed by decaying this matter. This whole process is known as humification.
Classification of Humus
Humus is divided into three different types, and they are as follows.
Humic Acids:- These are soluble in high pH conditions with dark brown colour. These can be stored for longer periods. The humic acids have high molecular weight than the others.
Fulvic Acids:- These have a low molecular weight and appear in yellow and yellowish-brown colour. These are soluble in water at every pH condition.
Humin:- A black-coloured substance which has a high molecular weight and it is also soluble in water at all pH conditions. These may not be found in base extracted liquid products.
Sources of Humus
We have multiple sources available in nature to get humus. If the animals and the plants died in a wet environment, after a long time this matter will become the richest source for getting humus. All these deposits were stored under big rocks and sand. These massive deposits are also known as ``lignite" or "leonardite" which became major sources of humic acids.
Benefits of Humic Acid
Humic acid has several benefits especially for providing nutrients, water, etc to the soil and plants. Some of the benefits of humic acid are as follows.
• It helps in increasing the water-holding capacity of the soil.
• Humic acid Improves the overall soil structure.
• It helps to stimulate microbial activity.
• It regulates the pH value of soils.
• It chelates toxins from the soil which helps to remove obstacles in growth.
• It helps to eliminate iron chlorosis by increasing the iron uptake.
• It improves overall plant health, provides plants better resistance against diseases.
• It stimulates root growth, which in turn increases crop volume.
• It is used to increase germination and also intake of nutrients.
Role of Agri Humic Acid
Agri humic is the concentrated substance of humic acid. It is available in granular form. These Agri humic granules promote cell division and cytokinesis in the root and shoot parts of a plant. To grow a healthy crop, the cultivators use this humic acid in the form of powder or liquid. If it is powder, it is available in the market as a humic powder or humic acid powder. But while purchasing the humic acid powder, one should notice all the standards given on the product. For example, it is good to use IFFCO humic acid as it is a verified quality of humic acid.
Also, different brands are available in the market. One should make sure about the brand, quantity, price and of course, quality is a must. The vestige humic acid can be applied to the crop in a proper dosage. Both excess and deficiency will show an impact on the crop. No one should neglect humic powder. It shows very adverse effects on the human body so one should take proper precautions and guidelines before using the humic acid. 5 kgs of humic acid powder are required for one acre of crop. The humic soil provides a good yield.
Conclusion
Hence the humic acid is a substance that helps to strengthen the immune system of plants and promotes effective production. It can be prepared naturally and stored for a long time. The only source for the formation of humic acid is the death of animals and plants. After the decomposition of these matters, the obtained product is nothing but humic acid which has several benefits for the soil, plants which in turn helps in producing food for mankind.
FAQs on Humic Acid
1. What is the Use of Humic Acid on Plants?
Ans. The cultivators can apply humic acid either in the form of powder or in the form of liquid. Both forms are available by various brands in the market. These powder and liquid act as bioenhancer which provide chemical, physical, biological benefits to the entire growth of the plant. It is a natural resource, it doesn't have many side effects on the plants. But there is a need to take several precautions while applying on the crop as it may have adverse effects on the human body. By examining all the factors like a type of crop, soil, the quantity of land, etc. the dosage will be provided by the agricultural technicians. According to that, the farmer needs to purchase an IFFCO approved product and use it according to the guidelines.
2. What Precautions Need to Be Taken While Using the Humic Acid?
Ans. As the name itself specifies that it is an acid, one should take appropriate precautions before using it on the crop. Cover your face with a mask and hands with gloves. Pregnant ladies and breastfeeding ladies should stay safe from the humic acid effects on their body by causing autoimmune diseases, like multiple sclerosis, rheumatic arthritis, etc. So one should be careful and have the proper knowledge and try to avoid if any diseases were already there before using humic acid.
