Harvesting Nature's Science™
Conducted by: Southeast Ag Research, Inc.
Huma Gro Products Used: Breakout®, Max Pak®, Vitol®, and Zap®
Objective
The purpose of this research project was to evaluate how Huma Gro® liquid fertilizer products with Micro Carbon Technology® affect cucumber yield when compared with a control program of grower’s standard fertilizer.
Dr. Richard T. Lamar and Dr. Hiarhi Monda of our Humic Research Laboratory, with assistance from analytical chemist Ryan Fountain, have published a methodology video in the biochemistry section of the peer-reviewed online video journal, JoVE.
The video, Quantification of Humic and Fulvic Acids in Humate Ores, DOC, Humified Materials and Humic Substance-Containing Commercial Products, shows the step-by-step laboratory methodology (the New Standard Method) for gravimetric quantification of humic substances (e.g., humic and fulvic acids) on an ash-free basis, in dry and liquid materials from soft coals (i.e., oxidized and non-oxidized lignite and sub-bituminous coal), humate ores and shales, peats, composts and commercial fertilizers and soil amendments.
In the video introduction, Dr. Lamar states, “The New Standard Method for quantification of humic acids provides a more accurate and precise analysis compared to the existing regulatorily accepted methods, and it also provides a standard method for pure hydrophobic fulvic acid quantification. The advantage of this protocol is that it provides a gravimetric analysis of humic and hydrophobic fulvic acid concentrations on an ash-free basis, and the extraction process has been optimized to obtain the highest recoveries of both humic and fulvic acids from samples.
At the video’s conclusion, Dr. Monda states, “Following this procedure, the dry humic and fulvic acids obtained can be used for characterization purposes, such as the carbon-13 and the proton NMR electron resonance, and the ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry, among other useful techniques. This can be used for characterization of the humus chemistry, as well as being a useful tool to dig deep into the structure-activity relationship with plant fitness and the underlying plant defense mechanisms.
Direct link to video on the JoVE Website: https://www.jove.com/v/61233/quantification-humic-fulvic-acids-humate-ores-doc-humified-materials (A free subscription will be required to view the entire video on the JoVE Website.)
From the JoVE Website: Filmed at the world’s top scientific institutions, JoVE videos bring to life the intricate details of cutting-edge experiments enabling efficient learning and replication of new research methods and technologies. JoVE is a peer-reviewed scientific video journal that is indexed in PubMed and Web of Science.
Huma Pro® Stimulates Rhizophagy Cycle of Microbes to Increase Root Growth, Rutgers Univ.
Conducted by: James White, PhD, Rutgers University
Huma Gro® Products: Huma Pro®
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this research project was to evaluate how humic acids stimulate microbial activity and initiation of the rhizophagy cycle (in which plants cultivate microbes on their roots and then absorb them to extract their nutrients). Huma Gro® Huma Pro®, a liquid 6% humic acid product, was used as the humic acid biostimulant source.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Huma Pro®, a 6% liquid humic acid, was incorporated into agarose at concentrations of 0%, 0.01%, and 0.10% humic acids. Seeds of tall fescure, annual bluegrass (Poa annua), and beefsteak tomato were surface disinfected in 3% NaOCl for 30 minutes to reduce microbial load on seedlings. Seeds were germinated and grown for 6 days on agarose (a polysaccharide derived from seaweed) with and without the Huma Gro® product.
CONCLUSIONS
Huma Pro® promotes seedling development in the seedlings tested. Root length in seedlings treated with Huma Pro® increased 73% (tomato) to almost 300% (tall fescue), roots growing downward increased 7 percentage points (tomato) to almost 75 percentage points (bluegrass), and shoot length increased 80% for tall fescue. Huma Pro® acts to stimulate the root microbiome and shows evidence of stimulating the rhizophagy cycle. Stimulation of the rhizophagy cycle in plants should result in increased nutrient absorption in plants.
Click HERE to read the full report.
Huma Gro® Ultra-Precision™ Blend Plus Root Dip Increases Strawberry Yields 30%, Univ. of Calif.
Conducted by: Surendra K. Dara, PhD, University of California
Huma Gro® Products: Ultra-Precision™ Blend; plus root dip of Breakout®, Promax®, Vitol®, and Zap®
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this research project was to evaluate how a special blend of fertilizer solution and a root dip made of Huma Gro® products with Micro Carbon Technology® affect strawberry yield when compared with a control program of grower’s standard fertilizer and a competitor root dip product.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Strawberry cultivar San Andreas was grown on 300-feet long bed plots at a University of California research center in Shafter, Calif., on a soil that was not fumigated. A total of two beds were used for this experiment. Each bed had six subplots of 30 ft. long with an 18 ft. buffer between each subplot. This conventional production did not receive pre-plant fertilizer. [Read more…]
In its May 2021 issue, Frontiers in Plant Science published a research article by BHN Humic R&D Lab scientists Dr. Hiarhi Monda, Ryan Fountain, and Dr. Richard T. Lamar in collaboration with Dr. Amy McKenna of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Ion Cyclotron Resonance Facility, Tallahassee, Fla.
The research, titled “Bioactivity of Humic Acids Extracted from Shale Ore: Molecular Characterization and Structure-Activity Relationship With Tomato Plant Yield Under Nutritional Stress,” revealed an unprecedented level of molecular characterization made possible by means of ultra-high resolution ion cyclotron mass spectrometry, providing a more comprehensive understanding of individual components of humic substances involved in enhancing plant productivity.
A detailed characterization of chemical composition becomes critical as new government regulations of biostimulant products will require the elucidation of the mode of action in order to supply farmers with effective product claims based on science.
The objective of this study was to investigate in detail the chemical features of humic acids (HAs) extracted from sedimentary ore with the aim of exploring the potential relationship of chemical functions with biostimulant activity and to evaluate the extent to which the priming effect of HAs on tomato plants under nutritional stress was reflected on the yield gains.
The results of this study proved the biostimulant efficacy of humic acid application that improved nutrient use efficiency and at the same time alleviated the nutritional stress condition. All tomato plants treated with humic acids showed faster adaptation to stress conditions, particularly when nutrient deficiency occurred. Plant growth and tomato yield increased when provided with humic acids under low nutritional doses, and tomato fruit quality was improved under all humic acid treatments.
The increased antioxidants production under humic application has been correlated to the presence of specific molecules in the humic extract. These molecules, such as quinones and flavonoids, can act as both antioxidants and pro-oxidants that can trigger the plant defensive system, ultimately leading to a fast and effective response to nutrient deficiency with a consequent enhancement of plant morphology and productivity.
Among the study’s conclusions are that plant pre-conditioning with humic substances might represent an important determinant in the adaptive plant defense response and an effective strategy to improve nutrients management and plant yield.
The complete open-access article is available at https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.660224/full.
Bio Huma Netics, Inc. (BHN), has hired Mojtaba Zaifnejad, PhD, to be Senior Director of Field Research and Technical Services. In this position he will oversee the company’s agricultural product-use research and field trials for its Huma Gro® and Fertilgold® Organics soil health, crop nutrition, and crop protection brand lines. He will also provide technical support to the sales team and to company clients. [Read more…]
The objective of this study was to compare, for use in Louisiana wheat production, the efficacy of a liquid silicon (Si) fertilizer (Huma Gro® Sili-Max®) with a commonly used dry Si source (steel slag) and another Si source (wollastonite) often used in research as a suspension. Silica deposition is an important barrier for foliar fungal diseases.
The wheat field study was conducted at Louisiana Ag-Center Research Stations. Silicon (Si) treatments were replicated four times and arranged in a randomized block design. There were 2 Huma Gro® Sili-Max® (10% Si) treatments (as a foliar band, and as foliar broadcast sprayed evenly over the entire plot). Each treatment was applied twice within 2 weeks at the onset of internode elongation (Feekes growth stage 5). The dry silicon sources (wollastonite [23% Si] and steel slag [11% Si]) were applied and incorporated into the soil prior to planting. Wheat leaf samples were collected one week after the application of silicon solution sources and evaluated for silica bodies (phytolith) deposition and percentage using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray analysis.
Sili-Max® foliar band and Sili-Max® foliar broadcast increased grain yield by 10 and 7 bu/ac, respectively, in reference to the control plot (Fig. 1). It is important to note that the total silicon applied using Sili-Max® solution was substantially lower (0.064 to 0.128 lb Si/ac) than the dry wollastonite and steel slag silicon sources (250 lb Si/ac). The state average wheat yield was low that year due to a mild winter that affected the wheat vernalization. Sili-Max® foliar band had the numerically highest straw yield at 7,941 lb/ac.
The accumulated silica bodies (phytolith) were 0.69% and 0.60% with Sili-Max® foliar broadcast and Sili-Max® foliar band treatments, respectively while the control had 0.53%.
Investigación realizada por la Lic. Olga Walsh, Universidad de Idaho
Los objetivos de este estudio fueron: (1) comparar el producto PHOS-MAX® (P-M) con fósforo (P) basado en la Tecnología Micro Carbono® contra fertilizantes de fósforo (P) tradicionales como polifosfato de amonio (APP) y fosfato diamónico (DAP); y (2) comparar el producto SUPER NITRO® (SN) con nitrógeno (N) basado en la Tecnología Micro Carbono® contra el fertilizante de nitrogeno tradicional, UAN.
La aplicación de SUPER NITRO® de Huma Gro® seguido de 30 lb de P2O5 por acre de PHOS-MAX® (Tratamiento N.° 3) contribuyó a obtener récords en términos de peso de granos, biomasa y
rendimiento.
Este estudio también indica que PHOS-MAX® es menos corrosivo y menos propenso a causar daños a las semillas y sugiere que PHOS-MAX® puede aplicarse con la semilla en una dosis mayor comparado con otras fuentes de P.
Para saber más sobre los productos Huma Gro haga clic aqui.
Research by Olga Walsh, PhD, University of Idaho
The objectives of this study were (1) to compare the Micro Carbon Technology®-based phosphorus (P) product Super Phos® (SP) with traditional phosphorus (P) fertilizers ammonium polyphosphate (APP), and diammonium phosphate (DAP); and (2) to compare the Micro Carbon Technology®-based nitrogen (N) product Super Nitro® (SN) with the traditional nitrogen fertilizer, UAN.
Huma Gro® Super Nitro® followed by 30 lb P2O5 per acre of Super Phos® (Treatment #3) contributed to the highest grain test weights, biomass, and yield.
This study also indicates that Super Phos® is less corrosive and less likely to cause damage to the seeds as a dribble and suggests that Super Phos® could be applied with the seed at a higher rate compared with other P sources.
El arroz (Oryza sativa) es el alimento básico para más de la mitad de la población mundial, y alimenta a unos 3.500 millones de personas. Sin embargo, en comparación con otros cultivos, el arroz acumula mayores cantidades de arsénico (As) dado que se cultiva en campos anegados bajo condiciones anaeróbicas. El arsénico es un elemento tóxico y carcinógeno.
Por lo tanto, disminuir los niveles de As en el grano de arroz, en especial las formas inorgánicas más tóxicas (As [III] y As [V]), es uno de los principales objetivos de productores y legisladores. La Comisión Europea acaba de establecer un límite de contenido de As en el arroz comercial de 200 µg kg-1 para el arroz blanco y de 100 µg kg-1 para el arroz para bebés. Por consiguiente, es fundamental establecer prácticas agronómicas adecuadas para reducir la acumulación de As en el arroz.
Una práctica prometedora es la aplicación de fuentes de silicio (Si), ya que el Si compite con la absorción de As a nivel radicular. Hay muy pocas fuentes eficaces de silicio en el mercado que limitan la absorción de As por parte de las plantas. Por lo tanto, es necesario identificar fertilizantes eficaces que son seguros para el medio ambiente y la calidad del alimento.
En este estudio, Huma Gro® Sili-Max® demostró su capacidad de aportar a las plantas de arroz Si disponible y, al mismo tiempo, disminuir el contenido de As inorgánico del grano mucho más que las otras fuentes de Si sometidas a prueba. Sili-Max® demostró ser una fuente de SI prometedora no solo por suministrar Si, sino también por limitar la absorción de As inorgánico, uno de los elementos más tóxicos de los productos de arroz, por parte de la planta.
Para saber más sobre los productos Huma Gro haga clic aqui.