Are you looking for a way to enhance your soil’s nutrient availability? Or maybe you’re in the market for an input to improve your soil’s overall structure after a drought or flood? If so, you may have heard of humic acid and would like to try it out for your fields. However, how can you know if it’s right for you, and what form is better: Humic acid liquid or granular?
In this short blog with Norstar Agriculture, let’s dive into the essentials of these two widely used forms of humic acid. Read on to find out more.
The Role of Humic Acid
Humic acid is widely used by prairie farmers, thanks to its ability to increase nutrient availability and uptake in crops. It’s naturally formed over thousands of years deep in the earth as organisms and organic matter break down. Humic acid also provides further benefits to the soil. Thanks to its naturally high carbon content, humic acid helps provide a food source for microbes to break down for nutrient cycling and soil structure.
Humic acids contain many negatively charged sites and contribute to soil cation exchange capacity (CEC). These sites can then better hold onto, or chelate, positively charged nutrients in the soil for use by the crop. As a result, humic acids can increase the efficiency of certain soil-applied inputs—such as traditional fertilizers. In fact, local field trials have shown that our humic acid amendments supported the more efficient use of key applied nutrients. In this trial, more efficient nutrient use resulted in measured reductions of 15% in nitrogen, 20% in phosphorus, and 15% in potassium.
While humic acid plays these essential roles, the form it takes also matters. At Norstar Agriculture, we offer both humic acid liquid and granular products, each with distinct considerations to keep in mind.
When Humic Acid Liquid Makes Sense
Humic acid liquid is preferred by those seeking a solution with faster interaction. Just as other soil inputs can, humic acid liquid can chemically interact with its environment. As a result, it’s typically best applied in-furrow before germination occurs.
At Norstar Agriculture, we have several humic options with varying concentrations of humic acid for specific use cases. Norstar considers soil tests, water table levels, and crop rotations before making an initial application recommendation.
When Granular Humic Acid Works
Granular humic acid, on the other hand, releases humic compounds more slowly as it reacts and dissolves with moisture. Granular is also beneficial because it is a targeted overall approach. It can be applied annually because it still dissolves quickly and can be used in furrow as well as broadcast. Depending on the formulation and application, full results are often seen in the first year. It’s a great alternative for farmers who want to enjoy the benefits of humic, but don’t have a chain spreader or other liquid application kits.
This year, Norstar Agriculture is proud to introduce our new granular humic acid product. Start the conversation with us to learn more about whether it’s right for your fields and your current soil program.
Can I Use Both Liquid & Granular Humic Acid?
Yes, granular and humic acid liquid can often work together to enhance your soil’s structure and overall fertility. That said, whether it’s right for your fields depends heavily on your soil’s current conditions. Factors such as soil composition, organic matter content, pH level, and more heavily influence whether it can be beneficial for your soil.
Why a Tailored Approach is Needed
If you’ve used humic acid in the past and it didn’t work, that doesn’t necessarily mean it should be discounted. Though humic acid products all come from the same substrate, they’re not all created equal. It’s also crucial to keep in mind that soil conditions can change with every growing season and shifting environmental conditions.
When deciding on a humic acid product to incorporate into your crop routine, it’s also helpful to consider how it’s tested. Standards set by organizations like HPTA (Humic Products Trade Association) can help support your decisions by providing transparency around products.
Your Trusted Prairie Agronomists
No two fields are exactly alike, and as a result, there’s no definitive answer to whether it’s recommended for your field. Before introducing humic acid of any kind to your soil, have your fields tested and assessed by a professional agronomist to see if it’s right.
It’s never too early to start getting your fields into shape for the upcoming growing seasons. Contact us today to book your field consultation with one of Norstar’s trusted, expert agronomists.
