Hot Agricultural Inputs Investment Network – Better humic acid, better compound fertilizer! Shandong Agricultural University proves through results that humic acid plus chemical fertilizer yields more than the sum of its parts.

As the saying goes: to nurture a tree, first nourish its roots; to nourish the roots, first enrich the soil; and to enrich the soil, rely on fertilization. The practice of heavily applying inorganic fertilizers—once thought to improve soil quality—has gradually fallen out of favor, while organic fertilizers are gaining increasing recognition. Meanwhile, humic acid fertilizers have emerged as a dark horse, rapidly capturing attention in the industry. Recently, humic acid has become a hot topic. So why develop humic acid fertilizers? And what is the relationship between humic acid and chemical fertilizers? Today, we’ll explore the connection between humic acid and chemical fertilizers.

I. Fertilizers Are Not at Fault to Begin With

“Crops are like a flower; fertilizer is its backbone,” and chemical fertilizers, a product of human civilization’s progress, have made significant contributions to safeguarding China’s food security.

“Talking about fat makes one turn pale”—it’s not the fat’s fault, but humanity’s.

The problem lies in indiscriminate fertilization and low fertilizer-use efficiency, leading to resource waste.

The problem lies in the lack of proper guidance—using the wrong formulation, applying it in the wrong location, at the wrong rate, and at the wrong time.

The problem lies in lax regulatory oversight, as products containing harmful substances, exceeding permissible heavy-metal limits, or falsely labeled in terms of formulation and content have undermined the market.

As members of the industry, we have every reason—and every confidence—to champion fertilizers and applaud this sector that benefits the nation.

II. Fertilizers Are Advancing

According to the widely accepted view within the industry, China’s fertilizer sector has now entered the Industry 4.0 era.

The 1.0 era, spanning from 1940 to 1960, was characterized by fertilizers such as ammonium carbonate and calcium superphosphate.

The 2.0 era, spanning the 1960s to the 1970s, was characterized by products such as urea and diammonium phosphate.

The 3.0 era, spanning from 1980 to the early 21st century, was characterized by compound fertilizers based on the three primary nutrients—nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—as well as formulations that combine these with secondary and micronutrients.

Since 2015, the 4.0 era has placed greater emphasis on soil health, pursuing a combination of organic and inorganic approaches.

III. Humic acid compound fertilizers are even more perfect.

Among the many “organic-plus-inorganic” fertilizers, “humic acid-plus” is arguably one of the most frequently mentioned categories.

So why is it said that humic acid compound fertilizer is the more perfect type of compound fertilizer?

Why can the combined effect of humic acid and chemical fertilizer exceed 2?

Next, let me explain the effects of “Humic Acid Plus.”

Humic acid itself contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and other elements essential for plant growth, while also enhancing the utilization efficiency of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers. As a result, humic acid significantly boosts crop yields.

First, humic acid can fix nitrogen.

Nitrogen fertilizers, primarily urea and ammonium bicarbonate, are highly susceptible to loss through volatilization and leaching; only about 30% of the nitrogen applied is actually absorbed and utilized by crops.

The acidic functional groups of humic acid react with nitrogen, forming stable ionic complexes that gradually decompose to release nitrogen, enabling plants to absorb it slowly.

According to statistics, when the nitrogen released from urea and carbamide is complexed with humic acid, its fertilizer efficacy can last for more than 60 days, increasing the utilization rate of nitrogen fertilizers by over 10%.

Second, humic acid can solubilize phosphorus.

Phosphorus is immobilized by metal ions in the soil, converting readily available phosphorus into slowly available or unavailable forms.

The acidic functional groups of humic acid react with phosphorus, converting it into soluble phosphate and enhancing its bioavailability, thereby facilitating uptake by plants.

According to statistics, applying humic acid fertilizer can increase the utilization rate of phosphate fertilizers by 5% to 10%.

Third, humic acid can release potassium.

The functional groups of humic acid can adsorb and store potassium ions, thereby preventing potassium loss through leaching in sandy soils and mitigating potassium fixation in clayey soils, thus improving the efficiency of potassium fertilizer application by approximately 5%.

Fourth: Humic acid complexation of trace elements

Micronutrients and secondary nutrients in the soil are not readily absorbed directly by plants.

Humic acid can react with poorly soluble micronutrients and mesoelements to form highly soluble, readily absorbable complexes.

Fifth humic acid complex microbial formulation

When humic acid is combined with beneficial microorganisms, it not only promotes microbial growth and reproduction and enhances the activity of these beneficial microbes, but also facilitates the further decomposition and synthesis of humic acid, thereby improving nutrient uptake by crops. The two components thus complement each other’s strengths.

The above, This is enough to prove that humic acid plus chemical fertilizer is greater than 2!

The synergistic effect of humic acid on chemical fertilizers aligns with the national goals of reducing fertilizer use while boosting efficiency, and it also supports the structural reform of the agricultural supply side. By focusing humic acid on fertilizers and letting it thrive in the fields, we will undoubtedly help advance the development of beautiful countryside and green agriculture, bringing happiness to countless households.

Humic acid nitrate compound fertilizer 15-5-20—Heisongtu—produced by Shandong Nongda Fertilizer Technology Co., Ltd. It is reported that Shandong Nongda Fertilizer Technology Co., Ltd. is a modern fertilizer manufacturer integrating production, education, and research. Relying on the technological expertise of Shandong Agricultural University and supported by its Fertilizer Research Institute, the company has established a joint-stock enterprise in close collaboration with Taishan Shengliyuan Group.