About humic substances

Provides plants and soils with essential nutrients

The humic substances used in HumicGrow products are a natural way to provide plants and soils with a concentrated dose of essential nutrients, vitamins and trace elements that are normally not provided by typical fertilisation. These complex molecules exist naturally in soils, peat, oceans and fresh waters.

Humic substances help break up clay and compacted soils, assist in transferring micronutrients from soil to plants, enhance water retention, increase seed germination rates, and stimulate the development of microflora populations in soils. Humic substances also slow down water evaporation from soils. This is especially important in soils where clay is present at low concentration or not at all, in arid areas, and in sandy soils without the capability to hold water.

Humic substances also provide sites for microflora to colonize. Bacteria secrete enzymes which act as catalysts, liberating calcium and phosphorous from insoluble calcium phosphate, and iron and phosphorous from insoluble iron phosphate.

As a result, humic substances stimulate and promote plant development, resulting in both higher yields and higher quality. For soils to remain fertile, humus must either be replaced or added. Applying humic substances accomplishes this and increases the natural fertility of the soil.

Humic substances' effect on plants and soils

Nutrient availability and biological stimulation

When Humic substances enter plants at early stages of development, they increase cell division and root development; act as a respiratory catalyst and natural chelator for metal ions under alkaline conditions; convert nutrients into forms available to plants; protect plants from chlorosis and increase the permeability of plant membranes. They also reduce plant reaction to stress and increase quality and yield.

Humic substances have the ability to convert a number of mineral elements into forms available to plants as well as increasing the availability of phosphate. Humic substances also serve as a host for microorganisms as well as direct plant stimulation by providing a slow release of auxins, amino substances, and organic phosphates.

Physical modification

By assisting in the retention of moisture, humic substances help to prevent water and nutrient losses in sandy soils. Humic substances also assist in increasing soil particle aggregation, making the particles larger and looser.

Chemical change

Humic substances chemically change the properties of the soil. They regulate the pH of the soil whether acid or alkaline; help retain water soluble inorganic fertilisers in the root zones and reduce their leaching, and improve the cation exchange capacity.