Should You Be Using Organic Acids?
There has been a lot of interest in organic acids and their use in agriculture during recent years. These organic acids are derived from ancient deposits of organic matter that have had millions of years to decompose. The organic matter is decomposed much more than the humus that is so desirable in our soils.
This type of soil is a rich brown to black and often originates in close proximity to coal deposits in the earth’s crust and begins as peat, brown coal, soil, or leonardite. it is a tremendously big and complex molecule, at the molecular level, without any identifiable structure. Organic acids can be simplified into three different parts: humic, humin and fulvic.
Humic acid is the most commonly available form of organic acid and contains humic, fulvic and humin fractions. This is usually the raw product that has been mined, crushed and screened for proper size. The name humic “acid” is actually a misnomer because it has pH of 11 or higher. Most lawn and garden professionals will refer to humic acid as “humate”. It comes in a dry granular form as well as liquid. Dry humic can be added to most dry fertilizer blends at a rate of 20 – 40 pounds per acre.
While merging with dry phosphate fertilizer, humic entices microbes to the prills which increase degradation of the waxy protective outside layer. This increases the rate at which nutrients become accessible for plant use. Humic also works as a chelating agent to shield phosphate from being occupied in the soil. This occurs since humic has a vast number of binding sites where nutrients can connect themselves and remain protected until they are required by a plant.
Humic, in liquid form, is commonly combined with liquid nitrogen (UAN 32) or with liquid phosphate (10-34-0). UAN 32 is commonly used to top-dress winter wheat in places such as Northern Utah and Southern Idaho. The mixture of humic to the fertilizer will diminish burning of the leaves and decrease the quantity of nitrogen that can volatilize. It’s common to use over 80 accessible units of nitrogen with the addition of humic on irrigated winter wheat. This is generally done in early spring and typically in combination with an herbicide application using a ground rig.
Fulvic acid is truly acidic, having a pH below 7 and is relatively easy to extract from the raw humic. It is usually a clear to amber colored liquid and the actual percent fulvic can vary between manufacturers. Several herbicides and foliar nutrients respond well to additions of fulvic to the spray tank. Fulvic is normally very active in the plant and the soil but is only a small percentage of the overall humic.
Humins are the most difficult to extract but are the most stable in the soil and provide more direct plant activity than fulvic. Since they are so difficult to extract, the best way to apply humin to the soil is by using the full humic acid in its raw form.
Organic acids profit the soil by raising the H2O hold capacity, accumulating stable organic matter to the soil, and escalating the nutrient holding capacity. When mixed directly to the nutrients being applied, organic acids amplify efficiency and help save the environment. A thorough research study done by the University of Idaho, suggests that organic acids provide an economic return to growers in nearly every trial. Should You Be Using Organic acids?
Tom Sharp is a Qualified Crop Consultant that is an expert in helping growers produce economical and environmentally sound crops. Tom recommends browsin to Intermountain Farmers Association for a extensive range of effective agricultural supplies.
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