Influence on soil

Humic substances which are contained in fertilizer EDAGUM®SМ improve physical, chemical and biological soil properties; fulfill protective function, capable to restore fertility of poor, exhausted, technogenicaly damaged soils.

INFLUENCE OF HUMIC SUBSTANCES ON SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Optimization of soil structure. On heavy clay soils humates promote repulsion of clay particles due of removal of excessive salts and destruction of three-dimensional clay structure. As a result soil moisture and air conditions improve.

On sandy soils humates envelop and stick together mineral particles, promoting formation of valuable water stable crumble soil structure which improves soil water holding and water-retaining capacity, air permeability. These features of humic acids are subjected by their ability to jellification.

Holding of soil water by humates occurs due to formation of hydrogen bonds between water molecules and charged groups of humates, as well as by metal ions adsorbed on them. As a result evaporation of water decreases in average on 30% that leads to more effective using of moisture by plants.

Structurization of soil moisture. Under the influence of humates soil moisture obtains structure, typical for "thawed snow". Such moisture positively influence on plant growth and development.

Formation of soil color. Humic substances paint soil in more dark color that improves absorption and accumulation of solar energy by soils. It is important for soils in cold and temperate climate.

INFLUENCE OF HUMIC SUBSTANCES ON SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Soil absorbability and cation exchange capacity. Humic acids are polyelectrolytes, able to form complexes with organic and mineral soil components of soil exchange complex. Humic acids adsorb and keep nutrients in soil in plant available speciations.

Soil buffer capacity. Soil treatment with humates increases soil buffer capacity which means that soil is able to resist changing the reaction of soil solution towards acid or alkaline reaction.

Transport of nutrients. Humates adsorb nutrients and thus promote their uptake, improve plant nutrition. Microelements form labile chelate complexes with humates which are easily available to plants. Positively charged metal ions are supposed to react with negatively charged functional groups of humic acids (carboxylic, hydroxylic, etc.). In the process of water absorption by roots soluble humates approach root cells. The negative charge of root system exceeds a negative charge of humates that leads to splitting out of metal ions from humic acid molecules and to absorption of ions by cell membrane.

Many researchers believe that plants are capable to uptake directly humic acids molecules with metal ions and nutrients absorbed on them.

Ability of humic substances to dissolve many soil minerals leads to mobilisation of plant unavailable nutrients. Increase of soil labile phosphorus, exchangeable potassium and available nitrogen occur in soil arable layer after soil treatment with humates. Soil humic substances create long-term stocks of all the plant nutrients, as well as carbohydrates and amino acids, provide sustainable existence of all currently known life forms and wholeness of biocenosis.

NFLUENCE OF HUMATES ON SOIL BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

Humates enhance activity of various groups of microorganisms participating in processes of mobilisation of nutrients in soil. Humic acids are sources of available phosphates and carbon for microorganisms, they are capable to form aggregates in soil where enhanced development of microbial colonies take place.

Application of humates improves soil provision of available nitrogen: number of ammonification bacteria can increase in 3-5 times, and nitrification ones in 3-7 times. Due to improvement of living conditions of free living bacteria their ability to fix molecular nitrogen from atmosphere increases almost in 10 times.

In soil humates increase number of microorganisms decomposing hardly soluble minerals and organic phosphorus.

At increase in a number of silicate bacteria in soil the content of exchangeable potassium is constantly compensated. Thus, the soil is enriched by available nutrients.

PROTECTIVE ACTION OF HUMATES ON SOIL

Protective action of humic substances on soil is conditioned by:

  • Formation of insoluble and non-labile complexes with heavy metals which are thus removed from cycle of matter and do not get into plants, ground waters and atmosphere;
  • Additional income of humic acids in soil and maintenance of soil stability to technogenic pollution takes place as a result of activisation of soil microflora by humates;
  • Application of humates allows to reduce transition of radioactive caesium into a tradable part of production up to 50%.
  • Humates activate the mechanism of detoxication of various organic pollutants (oil products, pesticides, etc.) by soil microorganisms;
  • Protective action of humic substances is especially important for soils experiencing an enhanced technogenic impact: exposed to emissions of ferrous and nonferrous metallurgy, in sites of oil extraction, near large highways, at use of pesticides and agrochemicals, etc.