Nongda Fertilizer Co., Ltd. showcased its products at the “2018 Second China Bio-Stimulant Conference and Crop Health Cultivation Forum.”

On May 12, the “2018 Second China Bio‑Stimulant Conference and Crop Health Cultivation Forum” was held in Guangzhou, where Nongda Fertilizer Industry was invited to attend. Lu Yanyan, a researcher at Nongda Fertilizer Industry’s Soil Ecology Research Institute, shared insights on the efficient application of humic acid and clearly highlighted the advantages of the activated humic acid process.

Optimized mineral sources and refined processes enable the efficient utilization of activated humic acid.

Efficient utilization of humic acid begins with the selection of its source. According to Lu Yanyan, in the humic‑acid fertilizer industry, many products are manufactured using peat, lignite, or weathered coal as primary raw materials.

The most commonly used indicator is the E4/E6 ratio, which reflects the geographic origin of the raw material and serves as a basis for assessing the age and reactivity of the source mineral. A higher ratio indicates a younger mineral age and greater reactivity, making it more suitable for the production of humic‑acid‑based fertilizers.

E4/E6 values vary across regions; we select raw materials from areas with relatively higher values to optimize our products.

In addition, optimizing the processing technology is crucial; employing different activating agents and activation methods can effectively increase the contents of free humic acid and water-soluble humic acid, while enhancing the E4/E6 ratio and the number of active functional groups. The activated humic acid can be widely promoted as a raw material for water‑soluble fertilizers, controlled‑release fertilizers, organic fertilizers, and other applications, making it particularly well suited for efficient agricultural use.

Activated humic acid can improve the soil’s physicochemical properties and microbial characteristics.

Soil bulk density was significantly reduced, and water stability was enhanced in soils treated with activated humic acid, leading to improved soil structure.

Compound fertilizers containing humic acid, particularly those subjected to activation treatment, significantly reduce nitrogen leaching in the soil; compared with fertilizers lacking humic acid or containing non-activated humic acid, they exhibit markedly higher residual soil nitrogen levels at later stages.

Moreover, the use of fertilizers containing activated humic acid can raise soil pH. At its cooperative research base in Changting Village, Yong’an Town, Liuyang City, Hubei Province, Nongda Fertilizer Industry conducted studies that revealed soil pH in early‑rice fields increased by 0.08 to 0.16 units, while in late‑rice fields it rose by 0.12 to 0.20 units.

Moreover, activated humic acid can also remediate heavy-metal contamination: in Changting Village, the exchangeable cadmium content in the soil decreased by 8.12% to 18.38% during the early rice harvest and by 16.17% to 29.80% during the late rice harvest.

Humic acid‑based fertilizers can also enhance crops’ photosynthetic efficiency and their ability to absorb nutrients and water, while boosting the synthesis and translocation of carbohydrates. They promote crop growth, improve the quality of agricultural products, and ultimately deliver both higher yields and superior product quality.

The “Humic Acid Plus” five-in-one industrial model leads the industry with cutting-edge technology.

As a leading player in the humic acid sector, Nongda Fertilizer Industry now boasts three core technologies: cutting-edge humic acid activation, the development of coated slow- and controlled-release fertilizers, and the formulation of functional biofertilizers.

On this basis, a five‑in‑one industrial model—“Humic Acid Plus”—has been established, encompassing the following integrated approaches: the “Humic Acid + Inorganic” model for producing humic‑acid‑based inorganic fertilizers; the “Humic Acid + Organic” model for producing humic‑acid‑based organic fertilizers; the “Humic Acid + Water‑Soluble Fertilizer” model for producing humic‑acid‑based water‑soluble fertilizers; the “Humic Acid + Agrochemical” model for producing humic‑acid‑based agrochemicals; and the “Humic Acid + Soil Amendment” model for producing humic‑acid‑based soil conditioners.

Over the past decade, Nongda Fertilizer has continuously improved 78 million mu of Chinese farmland, boosting grain production by 3.456 million tons (calculated in corn equivalent), efficiently utilizing 300,000 tons of humic acid resources, and reducing environmental carbon emissions by 9.504 million tons.

The humic acid technology developed by Nongda Fertilizer has been extensively demonstrated and promoted across the country on crops such as corn and wheat, resulting in yield increases of 5% to 15% and a nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency improvement of more than 15 percentage points. This has significant implications for achieving zero growth in chemical fertilizer application, among other objectives.