Is humic acid better when derived from mineral sources or from biochemical processes?

Release Date:

2019-08-15

As the saying goes, “Only when the soil is healthy can crops thrive.” Soil serves as the foundation for crop growth, and promptly replenishing lost nutrients to restore soil fertility is essential for producing high‑quality agricultural products. Fulvic acid is a highly active component of soil organic matter—often referred to as the soil’s “brain gold.” So how should you choose fulvic acid: is mineral‑derived better, or is biochemically produced superior?

As the saying goes, “Only when the soil is healthy can crops thrive.” Soil serves as the foundation for crop growth, and promptly replenishing lost nutrients to restore soil fertility is essential for producing high‑quality agricultural products. Humic acid It is a highly active component of soil organic matter and is often referred to as the “brain gold” of the soil. So, how should humic acid be chosen—should you opt for a mineral‑derived source or a biochemical one?

Over the past four decades, while chemical fertilizers have boosted agricultural yields, they have also posed a serious threat to soil health. Improper use of these fertilizers has exacerbated problems such as soil acidification, alkalization, compaction, and salinization, while organic matter content has plummeted—directly weakening crop root systems, reducing stress tolerance, and compromising the quality of agricultural products. Humic acid is a valuable resource; achieving bountiful harvests hinges on sourcing high‑quality humic acid!

Is humic acid better when derived from mineral sources or from biochemical processes?

Biochemical humic acid It is an important type of bio‑humic acid and has been attracting increasing attention in agricultural applications. Biochemical fulvic acid is a novel resource that can be naturally regenerated and recycled; since its introduction and widespread adoption, it has yielded significant economic and social benefits.

So. Biochemical humic acid and Mineral-derived fulvic acid What is the connection? Biochemical humic acid can replace mineral‑origin humic acid and is used in foliar fertilizers, flush‑applied fertilizers, agricultural fertilizer enhancers, plant growth regulators, and aquaculture. Its functional performance, efficacy, and application scope all surpass those of mineral‑origin humic acid.

What are the agricultural applications of humic acid?

1. Drought resistance and water conservation, stress tolerance and disaster mitigation

Biochemical humic acid can inhibit plant transpiration for more than 28 days, significantly reducing the loss of water and nutrients from the plant and thereby achieving the dual goals of conserving resources and enhancing drought resistance while saving water. This markedly improves crops’ tolerance to adverse environmental conditions.

2. Improve the soil’s physical and chemical properties

Because biochemical humic acid contains a high concentration of active functional groups, it helps maintain soil looseness. When used as an additive in combination with compound fertilizers applied to the soil, it can revitalize the soil, activate nutrients that have become immobilized, and ensure sustained soil activity.

3. Enhance fertilizer use efficiency and pesticide efficacy

Biochemical humic acid has a low molecular weight and strong penetrative properties. When added to fertilizers or pesticides, it significantly enhances their efficacy while reducing the required application rates, thereby markedly improving economic returns.

4. Stimulate crop growth

Biochemical humic acid exhibits a stimulating effect on crop growth and development, a characteristic not typically found in conventional humic acids. By applying it through seed soaking, root dipping, foliar spraying, or root application, it can promote crop growth and development and accelerate maturity.

5. Improving the quality of agricultural products

Applying biochemical humic acid to crops can promote the accumulation of dry matter, enhance crop quality, accelerate coloration and fruit enlargement, increase vitamin C and sugar content, and stimulate the synthesis of starch and protein.

6. Inhibit the proliferation of harmful pathogens

Biochemical humic acid can promote crop growth, thereby enhancing the plants’ intrinsic disease resistance, with particularly effective control of wilt diseases, such as Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt, and rot diseases.

7. Strong complexation ability

Biochemical humic acid exhibits a certain chelating capacity and excellent complexing ability toward micronutrients. After forming chelates with poorly soluble micronutrients, its solubility increases, making it readily available for uptake by crops. When combined with macronutrients, foliar fertilizer products based on humic acid demonstrate stable performance. Moreover, when used as a carrier or additive in fungicides and growth regulators, humic acid not only boosts efficacy by more than 30% but also supplies plants with abundant nutrients.

CCTV.com reports: Against the backdrop of comprehensively advancing rural revitalization and accelerating agricultural modernization, agricultural scientific and technological innovation has become a key driving force for green agriculture. Leveraging the research platforms of Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong Nongda Fertilizer Technology Co., Ltd. has successfully developed a new functional foliar fertilizer called “Nongda Leaf Power.” Field trial data confirm that this product significantly enhances crop photosynthetic efficiency and improves fruit quality, offering a fresh solution for boosting agricultural productivity and quality.

2026-04-28

The postdoctoral proposal defense at Nongda Fertilizer Industry marks the beginning of a new chapter in agricultural research.

On April 21, the review meeting for the postdoctoral proposal defenses of Dr. Li Pei and Dr. Cong Ping was held at the Agricultural University Fertilizer Company. Distinguished experts—including Academician Xu Minggang from Shanxi Agricultural University, Professors Zhang Min and Wan Yongshan, Dean Zhu Ge Yuping from Shandong Agricultural University, and Minister Gao Xia of the Soil and Fertilizer Department at the Shandong Provincial Agricultural Technology Extension Center—gathered to jointly embark on a new chapter in agricultural research.

2026-04-28

The Fertilizer Branch of the China Agricultural University Alumni Association hosted a “Symposium on High-Quality Development of China’s Fertilizer Industry” in Sanya, jointly charting a new roadmap for industry transformation and talent cultivation.

On December 6–7, the Fertilizer Branch of the China Agricultural University Alumni Association hosted the “Symposium on High-Quality Development of China’s Fertilizer Industry” in Yazu, Sanya.

2026-02-03

Nongda Technology has become the first company from Shandong Province to list on the Beijing Stock Exchange in 2026.

Taian City has consistently regarded promoting corporate IPOs as a key lever in building a strong, new‑type industrial city, and has innovatively established working mechanisms such as leadership‑assigned oversight for listed companies, empowerment task forces, one‑stop service via a single official letter, and direct communication channels between disciplinary inspection authorities and enterprises.

2026-02-03

Shandong’s first IPO of the year! Shandong Agricultural University Technology listed on the Beijing Stock Exchange.

On January 28, Shandong Agricultural University Fertilizer Technology Co., Ltd. was listed on the Beijing Stock Exchange, becoming the first company in Shandong Province to debut on the A-share market this year.

2024-09-14

ERP office system

WeChat

Video

Agricultural University Fertilizer Industry

Agricultural University Humic Acid

Tel：+86-538-3529921

Tel：+86-400-607-6731

Email：sdndfybgs@163.com

Is humic acid better when derived from mineral sources or from biochemical processes?

Sorry，当前栏目暂无内容!

Sorry，The current column has no content!