Agricultural Inputs Herald – Fertilizer Use Efficiency Up by 10%! Two core humic acid technology projects of Shandong Agricultural University Fertilizer Co., Ltd. Have Successfully Passed Acceptance Testing!

Recently, Shandong Agricultural University Fertilizer Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Agricultural University Fertilizer”) conducted on-site acceptance tests for two projects: the Shandong Provincial Key R&D Program project titled “Research and Application of Key Technologies for Novel Soil Conditioners” (2015GGH310001), and the Tai’an City Science and Technology Development Program project (an international science and technology cooperation initiative) entitled “Research on Novel Solid-Phase Activation Technology for Humic Acids and Its Mechanisms of Action on Crops” (2015HZ1149). In addition, the company carried out an evaluation of the key technological achievements related to humic acid–based soil conditioners. The meeting was chaired by Yan Changchun, Director of the Science and Technology Achievement Evaluation Center at Zhongke Hechuang (Beijing), a third-party professional organization specializing in technology assessment. The expert panel comprised five specialists from research institutes and universities, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, and Inner Mongolia Agricultural University. Following presentations by the project teams, review of relevant documentation, and subsequent questioning, discussion, and on-site inspection, the expert panel unanimously approved the acceptance of both projects.

When evaluating the project “Research and Development and Application of Key Technologies for a Novel Soil Conditioner,” the expert panel concluded that the project pioneered a technological process for low-temperature hydrothermal activation of potassium feldspar and limestone tailings, coupled with an enhanced humic acid‑boosting reaction. It also established a low‑energy, low‑cost, environmentally friendly production line capable of manufacturing 30,000 tons per year of a humic acid‑based composite silicon‑calcium‑magnesium soil conditioner. Through the implementation of this project, three new soil conditioner products were developed, designed to ameliorate acidic soils, saline‑alkali soils, and soils contaminated by heavy metals. These products meet the following specifications: CaO ≥ 20%, MgO ≥ 2%, SiO2 ≥ 10%, K2O ≥ 4%, and a pH of 10–12. Moreover, compared with fields treated without any soil conditioner, the project resulted in crop yield increases of 5%–35%, fertilizer use efficiency improvements of 5%–10%, and additional income of 300–2,500 yuan per mu for cash crops. The economic, social, and ecological benefits are substantial, and the products exhibit broad application prospects. The research outcomes have reached an internationally advanced level.

Regarding the project “Research on a Novel Solid-Phase Activation Technology for Humic Acid and Its Mechanism of Action on Crops,” the expert panel concluded that an activator and a corresponding process suitable for dry‑phase interfacial reactions of humic acid have been developed, and process parameters for solid-phase activation of humic acid have been established. The method for fractionating humic acid has been optimized, demonstrating that low‑molecular‑weight humic acid plays a dominant role in promoting crop growth. Five patents have been granted, four standards have been formulated, and four research papers have been published. Furthermore, the technology has been successfully scaled up to industrial production, resulting in the development of five new high‑efficiency activated humic‑acid compound fertilizer products. Field trials, demonstration projects, and widespread adoption have shown that fertilizers produced using this technology increase nitrogen use efficiency by more than 10%—over 5 percentage points higher than conventional humic‑acid fertilizers—and boost crop yields by 6.5% to 18.9%, delivering significant economic, social, and ecological benefits.

The successful completion and acceptance of two projects by Shandong Agricultural University Fertilizer Technology Co., Ltd. have further strengthened the theoretical foundation for the company’s application of humic acid technology and the promotion of its new soil-conditioning products. At the same time, these achievements offer improved solutions for the remediation and quality enhancement of degraded farmland across the province and even nationwide, holding significant practical importance for advancing green, environmentally friendly, and high‑efficiency agriculture, building ecologically sound and livable new rural areas, and accelerating the transition from old to new growth drivers in the agricultural sector.