HUMUS
ITS IMPORTANCE AND WHY
OUR FORMULA ESTABLISHES IT IMMEDIATELY

Is it important to have humus in soil? It is difficult to accurately evaluate the total economic importance of humus in agricultural soils today. Humus controls and regulates many soil functions, as well as plant growth. The better the humus count in the soil, the healthier and more productive soil will be. Regardless of the program one uses in farming operations, the higher the humus count, the better the crop grown yield. Good humus count in soil will hold soil moisture longer, thus less water is required for crop production. Also, good humus count reduces both water and wind erosion of soil.

There seems to be a false belief among farmers today that crop residue and organic matter are the same as humus. Organic matter is crop residue that is in the process of decomposition, while humus is decomposed organic matter. Experts agree 25,000 pounds of corn stalk residue per acre, broken down with nitrogen fertilizer, yields less than 1% humus count per acre. They also state it is impossible to attain a 2% humus count, even if 50,000 pounds of corn residue is plowed down every year for 5 years in sequence, when using today’s high salt index fertilization programs. With modern chemical farming practices, a 2% humus count is attained by few farmers.

Carbon compounds make up 50% of humus itself. The carbon compounds contained in the humus are used by micro-organisms through the process of fermentation and respiration, converting it into high energy values used by the plant for growth. Other portions of the carbon may be spent, or used in the oxidation of mineral compounds into simpler and more available forms of energies. Humus as a concentrate of carbon and energy compounds, aids bacteria to survive excessive moisture, cold or dry conditions. Humus enables bacteria to carry out antibiotic effects in the soil, as well as aiding bacteria interrelations with plant roots.

Humus absorbs the highly active non-nutrient hydrogen sources present in the soil and makes them immediately available as a food source for assimilation and usage by the plant. The humus colloid, or particle, will absorb and hold three times more mineral cations, water, and carbon compounds in the soil that are in a readily usable form for the plant to utilize. This means better crop growth and production. The humus colloids also protect (buffer) the microbial and plant systems against excessive sodium, magnesium, potassium, as well as other positive charged minerals, as the humus colloid carries a negative charged ion. The humus colloid also acts to buffer and enhance the four basic anions: carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous and sulfur, in their system of nutritional service to the soil and plants. When carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur are associated with humus, they become nutrients for both soil microbe activity as well as plant growth.

The humic acids, carbonic acids and carbon energy are activated, either through the association of properly digested organic residues, or from a balanced decaying of crop residues. It is well known that humic acid controls many of the vital processes in soils and in plants ( i.e. - absorption, photosynthesis, evaporation, growth, etc.). If the soil is too acidic, or too alkaline, or high in salt content, crops will not attain their full production potential. Therefore, if the soil contains enough humus, the plant is healthier and will be less susceptible to insect damage.

The natural process of humus production starts with crop residues. This residue can be broken down into organic matter with proper moisture and microorganism activity.The nutrients in the organic matter are still not available to the plant. The final stage of decomposition is when the organic matter is broken down into humus. The nutrients in the humus are readily available to the plant. Micro and macro-organisms such as earthworms along with proper climatic conditions are essential to complete the process of decomposition to produce humus. With the coming of the chemical age in farming in the late 1940’s, this natural cycle of humus production has in many cases been totally destroyed.

The chemicals have destroyed many of the beneficial organisms needed to produce humus, while at the same time have mined the humus from soils. Today, many of our once fertile agricultural soils have become nothing more than a growing medium. In many cases, farmers are using more and more chemicals while producing less yield at a higher cost of production.

To restore once fertile soils, two things must be accomplished: Restore humus back into soils and restore the natural biological balance to soils.

How to restore humus and biological balance back into soils

There are many forms of humic acids available on the market today. Most of the humic acids on the market are passive humic acids. They are mined from mineral deposits of lignite, a low grade coal deposit, found in many areas throughout the world. Passive humic acids on the whole contain a small percentage of humic acid, most of which is not in a form that the plant can use.

Native American Pharmacy's Organic Growers agricultural formula, in contrast, contains an active form of humic acid from our exclusive extracting processes. Our active humic acid establishes humus in the soil immediately, and in a form that is readily available for the plants use. Along with the readily available humic acid plus other plant extracts, our agricultural formula helps set up a conducive environment for beneficial micro and macro-organism activity. It also helps restore depleted soils to their once healthy, productive state.

Growing and Protecting Naturally

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