Role of HumicAcid in Sustainable Agriculture and its scope in India

Mr. V. Manoharan, M.Sc, Chief Manager

Centre for Applied Research & Development,
Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd., Neyveli 7.
Phone : 04142-257 149 / 257 020
EMAIl : chiefcard@nlcindia.com

~~~~~

Humic acid is naturally occurring organic substance found more in forest soil and rich in
oxidized low rank coal, lignite, peat, etc, has major constituent of Carbon and Oxygen
about 90 %. It is not a substitute to chemical fertilizers & biofertilizer. It increases
water retention, retain nutrients and enhance microbiological activity enzymes in soil.
The organic matter on biodegradation converted into humus, which contains humic &
fulvic substances.

The humic substance contains various functional groups of

Carboxylic, Carbonyl, phenolic, alcoholic with higher molecular weight of 40,000 to

70,000 and higher cation exchange capacity (100 130 me/ 100 gm). Lignite contains
more of humic acid. Whereas some of the oxidized coals contain higher content of fulvic
acid; both of them are plant growth stimulant, beneficial to crops.
Natural Sources - Humic & Fulvic acids contents of various materials :
Natural Sources

Humic Acids %

Fulvic Acids %

Leonardite / Humate
Black Peat
Sapropel Peat
Brown Coal
Dung
Compost
Soil
Sludge
Hard Coal

40
10
10
10
5
2
1
1
0

85
40
20
30
15
5
5
5
1

International Market Trend :

Countries like USA, Germany, Australia, Greece, Japan, China, Russia are producing
Humic acid based - product using oxidized low rank coal (Brown coal, leonardite, peat,
etc.). The content of humic acid is more than 30% in oxidized low rank coals. Neyveli
lignite contains about 20 - 30 % of humic acid and the quality of the product is highly
influenced by the inorganic ash / litho type. In general the market product, HA
concentration is available from 2 to 15% in liquid formulation and in solids up to 80%.
It is also available as mixed fertilizer.
Some Manufacturers and Suppliers of Humic & Fulvic acid products to the International
markets :

Company
Aglukon
Agrachem / Brandt
Agrium
Agrofill
Agxplore International
Biolchim
Borregard Lignotech / Lobel
CIFO
Cosmocel
Double Dragons Humic Acid Co
Fine Humate
Industry Co
Futureco
GOFAR Agro Specialities
Greenworks Technology
Helena chemicals
Humintech
Iteco
Jiloca Industrial
Live Earth
Omnia Specialities
Quimica Foliar
Roullier Group / Inabonos
SPA Ret
Tradecorp
Valagro

Country
Germany
USA / France
USA
Italy
USA
Italy
USA
Italy
Mexico
China
China
Spain
China
China
USA
Germany
Spain
Spain
USA
Australia /
South Africa
Mexico
France/Spain
Russia
Spain
Italy

Selected Trademarks
Plantosam
Uptake, Leonardite Plus
Duration CR line
NA
HA 12
Take Up, Humidrip, Humic up
Borregro Line
Biotron Line, Cifoumic
Humicel, Humicrop, H 85
NA
Fine Humate
Humistrong, Humipower
NA
Huminova
Hydra Hume, Trafix
Liqhumus, Powhumus
Humid OR line
Humilig, Fulvin
LM 32, Crop Truster
K- Humate, Oxyhumate
Fulvicos,Fulvigran,QF Activator
Fertiactyl GZ
NA
Humical, Humistar
Leonarpower

Role of Humic acid in Agriculture :

Humic acid derivatives has been named as bio stimulants by the American
Society of Horticultural Science. It promotes plant growth

Humic acids are generally regarded for their ability to promote the development
of good soil structure, through the binding properties, and their excellent cation
exchange properties which enhance the retention of cationic nutrients such as NH4
and K

against leaching losses. It is also reported that it retains anionic nutrients

such as Phosphates via the formation of Organo metallic complexes. Prevent the
loss of nutrients and saves NPK fertilizers.

It also has beneficial effect in reducing Aluminium toxicity in plants by ion

exchange in an environment where high aluminium levels may poses problem.

Humic acid have also used as a chelating agent for trace elements such as iron &
copper in the manufacture of micronutrient fertilizers.

Humic acid reported in literature as a veterinary medicine called Humocarb ( 35%

Humic acid ), to be effective in preventing animals from intoxication by nitrates and
urea in over fertilized fodder. It is also effective against the toxicity of pesticides &
Herbicides. Reduce the toxicity in soil / contaminated soil

It increases water absorption, respiration, photosynthesis & germination rate, root,

shoot growth & also

increase the yield by 15 70 % in many crops.

Foliar spray application increases respiration rate, chlorophyll content,

Affect membrane permeability & increase permeability to some ions.

It is reported that some enzymes were stimulated by the presence of

Humic acid and also inhibits certain enzymes.

Humic acids are Hydrophilic groups attracts hydration of water thus improve
the water retention capacity.

Increase the microbial activity. The stimulating effects of Humic acid on certain
bacteria has increase in microbial membrane permeability favoring a better utilization
of nutrients.

General Properties of humic substances

Humic acids the fraction of humic substances that is not soluble in water under acidic
conditions (pH < 2) but is soluble at higher pH values. They can be extracted from soil
by various reagents and which is insoluble in dilute acid. Humic acids are the major
extractable component of soil humic substances. They are dark brown to black in color.
Many investigators now believe that all dark colored humic substances are part of a
system of closely related, but not completely identical, high - molecular - weight
polymers. According to this concept, differences between humic acids and fulvic acids,
can be explained by variations in molecular weight, numbers of functional groups
(carboxyl, phenolic OH) and extent of polymerization.
The postulated relationships are depicted in figure, in which it can be seen that carbon
and oxygen contents, acidity and degree of polymerization all change systematically with
increasing molecular weight. The low - molecular - weight fulvic acids have higher
oxygen but lower carbon contents than the high - molecular - weight humic acids. Fulvic
acids contain more functional groups of an acidic nature, particularly COOH. The total
acidities of fulvic acids (900 - 1400 meq/100g) are considerably higher than for humic
acids (400 - 870 meq/100g).
Another important difference is that while the oxygen in fulvic acids can be accounted for
largely in known functional groups (COOH, OH, C=O), a high portion of the oxygen in
humic acids seems to occur as a structural component of the nucleus.
Electron microscope observations revealed the humic acids of different soils to have
polymeric structure, appearing in form of rings, chains, and clusters. The sizes of their

macromolecules can range from 60 - 500 A, what is mainly decided of by the occurring
humification process, which also exerts an influence on their spatial structure. Compared
to other taxonomic units, the polymers of podsol- earth soils showed to most loose
structure.

The hypothetical model structure of fulvic acid (Buffle's model) contains both aromatic
and aliphatic structures, both extensively substituted with oxygen - containing functional
groups.

Elemental composition of humic substances and several plant material (by Kononova)

Substances
Fulvic acids
Humic acids
Proteins
Lignin

C
44 49
52 62
50 55
62 69

% Dry ash free basis

H
O
N
3.5 5.0
44 49
2.0 4.0
3.0 5.5
30 33
3.5 5.0
6.5 7.3
19 24
15.0 19.0
5.0 6.5
26 33

The humic acid / fulvic acid ratio

The percentage of the humus which occurs in the various humic fractions varies
considerably from one soil type to another.
The humus of forest soils is characterized by a high content of fulvic acids while the
humus of peat and grassland soils is high in humic acids.

The humic acid / fulvic acid ratio usually, but not always, decreases with increasing
depth.
Humic acid / fulvic acid ratios of some surface soils (by Kononova)
Humic acid/
Humic acid/
Soil
Fulvic acid ratio
Fulvic acid ratio
Chernozem ordinary
2.0 - 2.5
Gray forest
1.0
Chernozem deep
1.7
Sod podzolic
0.8
Chestnut dark
1.5 - 1.7
Tundra
0.3
Soil

Humic acid content in Red Lateritic soil Neyveli.

Organic
Carbon %
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Humic
acid %

1.79
2.16
0.56
3.35
1.07

0.95
1.10
0.18
1.31
0.45

Characteristics of lignite humic acid ( as potassium Humate ) :

Characteristics
Humic acid content(%)
pH
EC(dsm-1)
Organic carbon(%)
CEC(cmol (p+) kg-1)
K (cmol p(+) kg-1)
Ca (cmol p(+) kg-1)
Mg (cmol p(+) kg-1)
Na (cmol p(+) kg-1)
Bulk density(Mg m-3)
Total acidity (cmol p(+) kg-1)
COOH groups (cmol p(+) kg-1)

Content
65
7.4
10.3
33.8
125
121.8
2.76
0.705
0.59
0.716
820
40

Characteristics
Phenolic groups (cmol p(+) kg-1)
E4 / E6 ratio
Total N (%)
Total P (%)
Total K (%)
Total Ca (%)
Total Mg (%)
Total S (%)
Total Fe (ppm)
Total Zn (ppm)
Total Cu (ppm)
Total Mn (ppm)

Content
780
6.95
0.38
0.007
7.72
0.73
0.027
0.58
921
321
22
790

R&D Efforts on Production of Humic acid & Crop response studies:

NLC R&D dept. has successfully developed pilot plant to produce Humic acid from
lignite in both liquid & solid forms and also conducted several testing programme in

green house, field crops. The findings were also published in Fertilizer Association of
India Magazine Aug 2000 of Fertilizer News & received a Fertilizer Corporation of India
Award. It also taken up extensive field trials in association with TNAU, Coimbatore at
various locations at Tamilnadu. The application of the product in both the solid & liquid
forms to various crops and found responded well.

i) Poly Greenhouse Studies:

Achieved Results: Capsicum ( IAHS Mahabharat )
Method of application: Foliar spray (0.1 % HA, 3 times) once in 15 days
HA consumed: 500 ml : cost : Rs. 7.50
Recorded yield: 700 g / plant
For 900 plants: 630 Kgs
Produce value @ Rs. 15.00 / Kg = Rs; 9450.00
Increased yield 30 % : value Rs; 2835.00
Cost benefit: Rs. 2827.50
ii) CARD Field experiments :
Humic acid was tested with
Flower crops Rose, Marigold, Jasmine.
Oil seeds Sunflower, Groundnut.
Cereals paddy, maize, Ragi, pearl millet.
Pulses Green gram, black gram, Cowpea.
Vegetable Chillies, tomato, bhendi, Cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, Cluster beans,
onion, brinjal, amaranthes, cannabis.
Tubers Yam, tapioca.
Commercial crops sugarcane, cotton.
Yield increase : 15 70 %

iii) CARD AU Trials : In the early stages, the liquid solutions produced in pilot
plants were tested in crops such as Sugarcane, Paddy, etc. to study the effect in
association with Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University and found
beneficial to crops.
iv) TNAU CARD
Field Trials :
Crops tested : Elaborate Studies conducted in the following crops by TNAU at
various soil and climatic conditions. Sugarcane, cotton, rice, maize, groundnut,
pulses, tomato, tea, etc. The result indicated the increase of yield varying from 10
to 30 % apart from other benefits.
Places:
1. Tamilnadu Rice Research Institute, Aduthurai,
2. TNAU Farm, Coimbatore,
3. Agricultural College & Research Institute, Killikulam,
4. Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar,
5. Agricultural College & Research Institute Madurai,
6. Regional Research Station, Vridhachalam,
7. Farmers Field : Gobichettipalayam, Attur, Sundapalayam, Pollachi, Alandurai.
Recommendations :
Rice

: 0.1% FS + 0.3% RD + 10 kg HA ha-1

Pulses

: 20 kg HA ha-1 +0.1% FS

Groundnut

: 20 kg HA ha-1

Sugarcane

: 20 kg HA ha-1

Cotton

: 30 kg HA ha-1

Onion

: 20 kg HA ha-1

Tomato

: 20 kg HA ha-1

COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS ON HUMIC ACID APPLICATION

Test
Crop

Highest yield
achieved
on using

% inc.
over
control

Achieved
Inc.
Qty.

Approx.
Unit
Price

Gain
Rs./ha on using
HA

Rice
Groundnut
Sugarcane
Black gram
Green gram

Humic acid
(Kg/ha)

6808
1967
138 t/ha
985
1496

23.8
48.5
34.0
33.1
41.3

Kg or
Tonne /

1308
642
35
245
438

Per
Kg or T

Rs.3.50/Kg
Rs.25/Kg
Rs.800/T
Rs.15.00/kg
Rs.15.00/kg

In Rs.

4578
16050
28000
3675
6570

Methods of Applications :
To all commercial crops, cereals, pulses, oil seeds, vegetables &, trees, orchard, green
house crops, ornamental plants, grass lawns, nurseries - sprayed in soil before planting
and Foliar spray in two/ three stages on plants before flowering for best results.
DOSAGE :
Soil Application :
Liquid Potassium Humate may be applied 35 ml / M 2 area before planting / sowing /
during irrigation in fertigation system. For aged grown up trees, the dosage can be
increased to about @ 200 ml per tree.
Solid Potassium Humate may be applied @ 10 Kg/ha for all crops in general along with
basal fertilizer / Manure application at top dressing before flowering stage.
Foliar Spray :
Dilute 1 litre of liquid in 30 Ltrs. of water, then spray to all crops before flowering,
ornamental plants and grass lawn; once in 30 days in morning or evening for better
results and may be combined with fertilizer spray also.
Demand of Potassium Humate in India
In India total land area available for cultivation is about 140 Million Hectares among this
major crops tested and based on its cultivation area, its likely requirement of humic acid
apart from plantation crops and exports are shown below.
Demand of potassium humate for tested crop area in India

Sl.
No.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Crop

Area
(million ha)

Groundnut
Sugarcane
Pulses
Cotton
Total

6.73
4.06
23.65
8.90
43.34

Total quantity
required ( In
tonnes)
134600
81200
946000
267000
1428800

Demand of Liquid potassium humate for certain crops in India

Sl.
No.

*-

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Crop
Pulses
Vegetables
Mango
Banana
Grape
Cashew
Tea
Coffee
Rubber
Cut flowers
TOTAL

Area
(ha)
23650000
5870000
970000
490000
40842
730000
437860
329000
573980
88607
33180289

Total quantity
required (Kilo
Lit.)
1419000*
352200
55500
29400
2451
43800
39407
29610
45918
5316
2022602

BASED ON THE CARD / TNAU

COAL S&T PROJECT
RECOMMENDATION.

Ideal
Tool
Sustainable
Agriculture :

for

It has multi effect,

help soil to retain moisture, improve cation exchangeable capacity, retain nutrients and
slow release to plants, increase soil organic matter levels, enzymes, protect plant from
disease, reduces some extent fertilizer and ultimately increase the crop yield & the quality
of the produce. It reduces the toxicity level in soil & control up-take in plants. It also
improves microbial activity. Humic acid is an eco-friendly product needed lesser in
quantity when compared to other chemical fertilizer, manures. Thus it does Wonders to
plant & soil ecosystem. It is a vital tool for sustainable agriculture.
Role Needed :

There is lack of knowledge about humic acid in India. Awareness to be

created.
To choose the best product from the market standard quality control methods
are required at national level .

Detailed soil survey programme needed to assess the humic acid content in
various cropping region in India.

To cater the demand of humic acid more production plants needed.

There is a wide scope for humic acid in agriculture in India, which has to be
explored.
****

Characteristics
Humic acid content (%)
-3

Bulk density (Mg m )

PH
EC (dsm-1)
Organic carbon (g kg-1)
CEC [cmol (p+) kg-1]
Exchangeable K [cmol (p+) kg-1]
Exchangeable Ca [cmol (p+) kg-1]
Exchangeable Mg [cmol (p+) kg-1]
Exchangeable Na [cmol (p+) kg-1]
Buffering capacity [cmol (p+) kg-1]
Total N (%)
Total P (%)

Content / value
60.00
0.68
7.50
10.20
32.40
122.00
116.80
2.26
0.51
0.39
21.25
0.36
0.07

Total K (%)
Total Ca (%)
Total Mg (%)
Total S (%)
Total Fe (ppm)
Total Zn (ppm)
Total Cu (ppm)
Total Mn (ppm)

7.64
0.71
0.03
0.56
916.00
319.00
21.00
781.00