Humic Acids

Humus is the main component of the organic matter in arable soils, one of the most important factors determining soil fertility that has impact on plant growth, yield and its quality.

Humic substances are conducive to the functions and properties of organic matter. They are composed of humic acids, fulvic acids and humins. These substances are produced during microbiological and chemical decomposition of vegetal residues (humification). Humic acids belong to a group of humic compounds containing approx. 58% of carbon. These compounds are not soluble in an acidic environment. They are dark brown to black. Fulvic acids contain approx. 55% of carbon. They are yellow to yellow-brown and easily soluble regardless of pH. Humins are dark-coloured humus compounds, insoluble in water, regardless of pH. They determine humus stability in the soil.

Humic acids show high water capacity, and are capable of sorbing and desorbing cations contained in the soil, regulating their release. At the same time they help maintain the optimal pH of the soil. They favourably change thermal parameters of soils. Humic acids present in arable land may have a stimulating effect on the life processes of soil organisms and plants as well as accelerate decomposition of environmental pollutants.

With humic acids used in plant production it is possible to yield more food of better quality. Incorrectly performed agrotechnical treatments along with biomass being removed from the fields without manuring makes soils less abundant with humus, and thereby with humic substances naturally occurring in the soil. Supplying humic compounds into the soil is one of the methods to increase production of food with good quality parameters while maintaining soil fertility.

Taking into account the considerations above, a humic preparation should be supplied in form of humic acid salts, which ensure rapid action thanks to their solubility in water.

The humus content in Polish soils varies and depends on soil type and how it is used. The study carried out by National Research Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation (IUNG-PIB) as part of the Monitoring of the Chemistry of Polish Arable Soils (2017) revealed that average humus content is 1.94%. This report shows that degradation of organic matter significantly differs among individual regions (a positive balance of organic matter was recorded only in Podlaskie and Warmińsko-Mazurskie provinces, while the highest estimated degradation was observed in Dolnośląskie and Opolskie provinces). Comparable studies conducted by IUNG-PIB in Puławy of 1000 model profiles analysed recently and in the 60s and 70s revealed that an increasing amount of organic matter is lost in Polish soils. According to these studies it is estimated that over 0.8% of organic matter will on average be degraded in soils in Poland by 2030.

Soil humus is a factor determining water retention in arable layer. It is capable of retaining 3-5 times more water in form that is available to plants than the mineral fraction. An increase in the content of humic substances in the soil by 0.5% makes it possible to additionally retain approx. 80 m³ water/ha, which corresponds to 8 mm of each rainfall that can be used by plants. While estimating an anticipated average decrease in the organic matter content on agricultural land by 0.8% by 2030, including 18.9 million ha in Poland, it can be expected that periodic water retention capacity will decrease by 245 million tonnes of water.

In order to meet the growing needs of the changing agriculture, Grupa Azoty is introducing a new, environmentally safe product to the market.

Tohumus is an organic and mineral plant growth promoter derived of brown coal, being a biological and natural raw material.

Tohumus is produced during alkaline extraction from brown coal mined in strip mines.