[Updated Land] (II) What is humic acid?

When you hear the term “humic acid,” does Nongda Fertilizer Industry immediately come to mind? For 23 years, Nongda Fertilizer has been firmly establishing the equation: “Nongda Fertilizer = Humic Acid.” In 2018, as the company embarked on a transformative shift, it further adopted the slogan: “Better Humic Acid, Better Compound Fertilizer.”

[Revised Land] (I) explains why Nongda Fertilizer Industry is hailed as China’s leading brand in humic acid fertilizers, detailing how, over the past 23 years, it has consistently focused on humic acid—pursuing this specialty with unwavering dedication—and has become the “four‑most” enterprise in the Chinese humic acid fertilizer sector: the earliest to initiate R&D, the most deeply researched, the most technically authoritative, and the highest in market recognition.

Today, we’re sharing an article that we hope will help you gain a thorough understanding of humic acid.

I. Definition of humic acid

When humic acid is mentioned, many people immediately think of Northeast China, a region renowned for its fertile soils. This area accounts for roughly one-fifth of the nation’s grain production, making it a key supplier of commercial grain. The reason for this lies in its vast expanse of black soil, which is so rich and productive that locals often describe it with the saying, “One liang of soil yields two liangs of oil,” highlighting its exceptional fertility and value.

Simply put, black soil is so fertile because it contains a high concentration of humic acid.

Humic acid (HA) is a class of organic substances formed through the decomposition and transformation of animal and plant residues—primarily plant remains—by microorganisms, followed by a series of chemical processes and subsequent accumulation.

Speaking of the “zhi” in “humic acid,” with the formulation and implementation of standards for humic‑acid fertilizers, the use of this character has been clearly defined. As stated in Document No. 5 [2018] issued by the China Humic Acid Industry Association, the term “zhi” is to be used instead of “zhi”; please take note and refrain from using it incorrectly going forward.

II. Research on Humic Acids

First and foremost, it was soil scientists who first noticed and studied humic acid; this field has a history of 232 years, dating back to 1786. If we trace its origins to the “Wujin San” entry in the renowned Ming‑dynasty medical text, the Compendium of Materia Medica, compiled by Li Shizhen—known as China’s “Sage of Medicine”—then humic acid’s history stretches back over four centuries, vividly underscoring its long and venerable heritage.

Systematic research on humic acid began in the late 1950s, initially focusing on the utilization of peat. In the 1960s, a nationwide boom emerged in the use of humic‑acid‑based fertilizers and soil amendments. From the mid-1970s onward, humic acid gained genuine national attention and support; the State Council issued two key documents—Document No. 110 in 1974 and Document No. 200 in 1979—promoting its comprehensive development and application. During the 1980s, the state approved the establishment of the China Humic Acid Industry Association. On July 21, 2017, the China Humic Acid Industry Association convened a conference to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the environmentally friendly development of China’s humic‑acid industry.

III. Types of humic acid

Based on the raw material, humic acids are generally classified into lignite humic acid, weathered coal humic acid, and peat humic acid.

Due to the relatively low humic acid content in peat, lignite and weathered coal are typically used domestically.

IV. Mechanism of action of humic acid

1. Applying humic acid as a fertilizer can serve as an additional source of soil humic acid.

2. As an organic colloid, coal-derived humic acid, when applied over the long term, can promote the formation of soil aggregates, improve soil structure, enhance aeration and water permeability, and reduce the pH of saline–alkali soils.

3. Humic acid possesses the ability to fix nitrogen, solubilize phosphorus, and immobilize potassium, thereby enhancing crop uptake of these nutrients and exerting a synergistic effect on nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers.

4. Humic acid also exhibits strong resistance to drought, disease, low temperatures, and salinization, and it promotes the growth and reproduction of beneficial microorganisms in the soil.

V. Applications of Humic Acid

Research and applications of humic acid extend far beyond agriculture. As a versatile organic raw material, humic acid is widely employed across numerous sectors, including agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, petroleum, chemical engineering, construction materials, pharmaceuticals, public health, and environmental protection. In China, the principal products developed encompass fertilizers, pesticides, veterinary drugs, drought‑resistance agents, and feed additives; as well as pharmaceuticals, health supplements, and cosmetics; in addition to petroleum additives, industrial water‑treatment agents, coal‑water slurry stabilizers, battery expansion agents, ceramic additives, ink additives, and more—totaling over one hundred distinct product categories. Together, these have essentially established a comprehensive national system of humic‑acid–based products.

VI. Summary

As a natural organic raw material, the value of humic acid is self‑evident. The establishment of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Key Laboratory for Humic Acid Fertilizers at Nongda Fertilizer Industry not only underscores the state’s recognition of the company but also affirms the growing importance of humic‑acid‑based fertilizers. At present, major fertilizer manufacturers across the country are actively launching new humic‑acid fertilizer projects, which will further elevate and propel China’s humic‑acid fertilizer industry to new heights.

Ma Xuewen, Chairman and General Manager of Nongda Fertilizer Industry, once remarked: “Humic acid is gold in itself. For the past 23 years, Nongda Fertilizer Industry has been dedicated to one mission: helping this golden resource—humic acid—shine.” He also stated, “A compound fertilizer without humic acid is not a truly complete compound fertilizer.”

Today, Nongda Fertilizer Industry has made it happen, and the humic acid fertilizer sector has truly entered a golden era of industry growth. Nongda Fertilizer can rightfully take pride in its decades-long efforts to research, develop, and promote humic acid fertilizers. Over the years, we have remained steadfast in our commitment, and the many distributors and farmers who have consistently championed humic acid fertilizers are equally entitled to take pride in the contributions they have made to the development of China’s agriculture.

In a recent interview with Shandong Television, Ma Xuewen stated that, as China’s leading brand in humic acid fertilizers, Nongda Fertilizer will proactively assume a pioneering role. Guided by the spirit of the Two Sessions and seizing the opportunity presented by Shandong Province’s efforts to accelerate the transition from old to new growth drivers, the company will further intensify its research, development, and promotion of humic acid fertilizers, thereby making new and even greater contributions to China’s green agricultural development and the building of beautiful countryside.