Use of Humate Dispersible Granule Technology as a Soil Amendment in Turfgrass and Horticultural Soils

Abstract

Humates and Humic Substances are found in nature and are components of soil humus. Humates function in a wide variety of natural soil processes including chelating of metals, stimulation of soil microbial activity, degradation of organic matter. It has been demonstrated to have soil amending characteristic.

Humic Dispersible Granules (DG) contains four main elements of humate products, HAP, Humic Acid, Fulvic Acid and Humin. All have valuable functions as soil amendments. Humic acid not only stimulates soil microbial activity and is thought to act as catalyst for soil enzymatic activity. It is thought to be essential for plant nutrient in soils. Fulvic acid is a strong chelating agent that can strip metals from salt ions and are especially active stimulating soil microbes when in the presence of a supply of nitrogen.

Humic products available as soil amendments for root zone construction vary in quality and difficulty of use in practice. Humic DG will be examined as a novel form of Humate, beneficial to low CEC soils and in use. Its mode of activity allows Humic substances to self incorporate into soil on application. This is accomplished through patented dispersing technology creating thousands of sub-particles. The dispersed sub particles providing more surface area for Humates to decompose into Humic substance to be available to plant s in these low organic soils.