Humus is partially decomposed soil organic matter. Our humus material is of oxidized sub-bituminous coal from Alberta, Canada, which is identified as humalite. Brown-coal, lignite and leonardite are other names to identify similar materials from different areas. Our material has low energy values, but is rich in humic substances. Materials containing humic substances are also called humates. In addition to be just ordinary organic compounds, humic substances contain carboxylic (COOH), phenol-OH and quinonic (C=O) groups with such versatile benefits. Research identifies components of humic substances based upon their solubility in water as follows.
- Fulvic acid: soluble at any pH, smallest molecular weight, dominant in O.
- Humic acid: soluble at pH > 2, medium molecular weight, balance in O and C.
- Humin: insoluble at any pH, largest molecular weight, dominant in C.
- Humic and fulvic acids are the more effective components.
Research shows that humic substances increase soil water retention, provide available carbon to soil, promote growth of living cells (auxin-like type of hormone), chelate cations in soil (high cation exchange capacity), and solubalize hydrocarbons into water phase (similar to surfactant). Humic substances are safe to the environment and living organisms.
Humic (total humic and fulvic acids), ash and selected metal contents of four different humus materials are compared. Black Earth sample 2 was also analyzed for toxic organics and pathogens. All samples were analyzed in dry matters by A&L Western Agricultural, Loring and ALS Laboratories.
NOTE: * TEQ (Toxic Equivalency Quotient) based on ND (Non-Detected) = detection limit, which is the most conservative approach
