New worldwide data shows that the market for humates and humic acid in farming was over USD 700 million in 2024. Experts think it will grow fast because farmers want better soil and crops.
Statistic / Aspect | Data / Insight |
|---|---|
Global Market Size (2024) | |
Forecast Market Size (2033) | USD 1,410.2 million |
CAGR (2025-2033) | 7.9% |
Uses in Agriculture | Soil supplement, boosts microbial activity, water retention, nutrient uptake |
Product Trends | Innovative agricultural formulations, both powdered and liquid forms |
Humates and humic acid are now very important in farming. They help make soil better and hold more water. They also help plants take in more nutrients. Using them helps farmers grow more crops and keep soil healthy. This makes them very important for today’s farming and for the future.
Key Takeaways
Humates and humic acid make soil healthier. They help soil hold more water. They help plants take in more nutrients. They also help good microbes grow in the soil.
Using humic acid helps plants grow strong roots. It helps plants make more crops. It helps plants deal with stress like drought and salt.
Farmers should use humic acid early in the season. They should use the right amount for the best results.
The way humic acid is taken out changes its quality. It also changes how well it works on farms.
Humic acid comes as a liquid, granules, or powder. This helps farmers pick what works best for them.
Certified humic acid products are safe and high quality. This is very important for organic farming.
More people want humic acid, so the market is growing fast. People want better soil and greener farming.
Humic acid helps farming that is good for the earth. It lets farmers use less chemical fertilizer. It makes soil better over time.
Early Discovery
Ancient Knowledge
Humus in Early Agriculture
Long ago, farmers knew healthy soil was important. Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans saw that dark soil grew better crops. They noticed fields with more humus had stronger plants. Old writings from Sanskrit, Roman, and Chinese people talked about using humus for farming and medicine. These groups did not know what humic substances were made of. Still, they knew humus helped soil stay fertile. Farmers gathered organic matter and put it back on their land. This made the soil better and crops bigger. These early actions helped lead to later science discoveries.
Naming and Extraction
Humus Named in 1761
The word “humus” was first used in science in 1761. Scientists started to talk about the dark stuff in soil. They saw humus was important for plant growth. Naming humus was a big step in learning about soil.
Humic Acid Extraction in 1786
In 1786, Franz Karl Achard made a big discovery. He found a way to get humic acid out of soil and peat. He used potassium hydroxide to pull humic acid from organic matter. This method helped other scientists study humic acid. Later, in 1837, Sprengel made the process better by adding mineral acids before using alkali. These early ways let scientists learn more about humic acid and how it helps soil.
Key Scientific Advances
Lydia Khristeva’s Discovery
Lydia Khristeva helped people understand humates and humic acid. She studied how humic substances work with soil and plants. Her research showed why humic molecules matter for soil and plants.
Early Experiments
In the 1800s and 1900s, scientists learned more about humic substances. They found humic acids could be taken from soil with acid and base. They learned humic acids clump together with acid, but fulvic acids stay mixed in water. Over time, scientists saw humic substances were not just big polymers. They found these were smaller, different molecules that made complex shapes. This new idea showed humic substances help soil and plants grow. These findings helped make humates and humic acid important in farming today.
Note: Scientists are still finding new ways humic substances help soil and crops.
Humates and Humic Acid in Science
Structure and Types
Humic, Fulvic, Humin
Scientists put humic substances into three groups: humic acid, fulvic acid, and humin. Each group has special features that change how they work in soil and with plants. Humic acid is made of many different compounds. It does not dissolve well and breaks down slowly. Fulvic acid is smaller and dissolves easily in water. It reacts fast with other chemicals and moves in water. Humin does not dissolve at all. Its structure is tough and hard to break down. These differences come from their molecules and how they are arranged in soil. The way they are taken out and the environment also change their structure. Each type’s special features affect soil health, how nutrients move, and how plants grow.
Extraction Methods
Traditional and Modern Techniques
Researchers use different ways to get humic substances from soil and organic matter. The old alkaline extraction method is still used a lot. It can get up to 80% of humic acids and is cheap and easy. But strong alkali can change the active parts of humic acids. Gentle extraction keeps more active parts but gets less, about 30%. New methods like ultrasound-assisted and microwave-assisted extraction work better. Ultrasound uses sound waves to help get more, especially for fulvic acids, and saves time and money. Microwave speeds up the process and gets more humic acids. Both ways help keep the humates active and make it easier to produce a lot. The method you pick changes the quality and chemistry of humic acid used on farms.
Extraction Method | Efficiency (Yield) | Advantages | Disadvantages / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Traditional Alkaline Extraction (TAE) | Up to 80% of humic acids | Simple, low cost, short processing time, widely used industrially | May alter bioactive structure; uses strong alkali |
Mild Selective Extraction | ~30% of humic acids | Better preservation of bioactive structure | Lower yield |
Ultrasound-Assisted Alkaline Extraction (UAAE) | Higher than TAE (improved yield) | Green, non-thermal, eco-friendly, enhances extraction of hydrophobic fulvic acids, reduces time and cost | Excessive ultrasound intensity or duration can reduce efficiency |
Microwave-Assisted Alkaline Extraction (MAAE) | Higher than TAE (accelerated process) | Shortens extraction time, improves efficiency | Requires specialized equipment |
Soil and Plant Effects
Soil Health
Humates and humic acid help make soil better. They help soil keep more water and nutrients for plants. Humic acids and potassium humate help plants get more nutrients by holding metals and making soil stronger. This makes soil drain better and hold water. Humic acid helps good soil microbes grow, like Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria. These microbes break down organic matter and give nutrients to plants. Humic acids also help soil handle salt, heat, and pH changes. Using the right amount of humic acid adds more nitrogen, potassium, organic matter, and iron to soil. It can make soil pH closer to neutral, which helps plants take in nutrients. Humic acid research shows these changes keep soil healthy for a long time and lower the need for chemical fertilizers.
Humic acids help soil keep nutrients and stay strong.
They help good microbes grow and stop bad ones.
Soil with humic acid has more nitrogen and potassium.
Humic acid helps plants grow better and fight stress.
Plant Growth
Humic acid research shows it helps plants grow and develop. Humic acids help plants make hormones like auxin and cytokinin. These hormones help plants make food, grow roots, and take in nutrients. Plants with humic acid have thicker roots and more root hairs. This helps them get more water and nutrients. Humic acid also helps plants use nitrogen better, which helps them grow and handle stress. Studies show humic acid helps plants make more special compounds, like phenolic compounds and flavonoids, to deal with stress. In greenhouses, humic acid helps marigolds and peppers grow bigger roots. Strawberry and tomato plants make more and heavier fruit. These effects are not just from nutrients but from the active humates. Humic acid research proves that using the right amount gives more crops and healthier plants.
Humic acid makes roots thicker and gives more root hairs.
It helps plants make hormones and use enzymes.
Plants with humic acid grow better and give more crops.
Too much humic acid can hurt, so use the right amount.
Tip: Farmers get the most from humates and humic acid by picking the best extraction method and using the right amount for their soil and crops.
Commercial Development
Industry Growth
Mining and Production
Humates started being used when people mined natural deposits. These places had lots of organic matter. Now, big factories make humates in many areas. The United States is the top producer. In 2023, the U.S. market was worth over USD 150 million. The Midwest, West, South, and East all help with different farm needs. North America, including the U.S. and Canada, has about 28% of the world market. Asia-Pacific countries like India, China, and Indonesia use a lot because they have big farms. Europe, with Germany and France, is growing too. They use new technology and care about healthy soil. Russia started making humates in big factories in the 1990s. Their new ways made humates cheaper and easier to sell to other countries.
Note: Humates grow because of new ideas, help from the government, and the need for better farming.
New Mexico Example
New Mexico is a big place for mining humates in the U.S. The land there has special rocks called leonardite. Leonardite is important for making humates. Companies in New Mexico dig up, clean, and send humates all over the U.S. and to other countries. They use safe mining methods to keep the product good and help the soil stay healthy for a long time.
Product Types
Liquid and Granular
Farmers can pick from different humate products. The main types are liquid, granular, and powdered humates. Liquid humates mix with water and are good for spraying on plants or watering systems. Granular humates are put on the soil and can be mixed with other plant food. Potassium humate is the most used kind in the U.S. It is often mixed with fertilizers like urea and DAP to help plants grow. Companies make humates work better by changing the humic acids. These choices help farmers find the best product for their soil and crops.
Product Form | Application Method | Common Use Cases |
|---|---|---|
Liquid | Foliar spray, fertigation | Fast uptake, greenhouse crops |
Granular | Soil application | Field crops, turf, blending |
Powdered | Seed treatment, mixing | Specialty crops, custom blends |
Regulation
Quality and Standards
Rules are important in the humate business. Each country and area has its own rules for humate and humic acid products. North America and Europe have strong rules to keep products good and help the environment. Certifications help farmers trust what they buy. But, different rules in each place make it hard to trade and label products. Some government rules help organic farming and limit fake chemicals, so more people use humates. Local factories and sellers help companies follow the rules and keep products high quality.
Tip: Farmers should buy certified humate products to get good results every time.
Humic Acids in Agriculture
Soil Conditioning
Aggregation and Porosity
Humic acids help change soil structure in farming. When farmers add humic acid to clay soil, the soil gets softer and more open. This lets more air and water move through the soil. Roots can grow deeper and stronger. In New Mexico, people saw that humic acid made soil clump together better and drain faster. The soil had more air, which helped roots and made crops grow better.
Scientists have tested these results. They found that humic acid makes soil clumps bigger and lets in more air. Humic acid has special groups that stick to nutrients and metals. This helps the soil hold more food for plants. The soil also gets lighter and holds more water. A study in 2025 showed that humic acid helps make big soil clumps. These clumps hold more carbon and nitrogen, up to 49% and 43% more. This means the soil can feed plants better and help them grow more.
Tip: Farmers who use humic acid can make their soil better and grow more crops.
Plant Benefits
Growth and Stress Tolerance
Humic acids help plants grow and handle stress. They help roots and shoots get stronger. This means more crops and better quality. In barley, humic acid with fertilizer made grain grow up to 64.69% more. In maize, humic acid with biochar helped roots and shoots grow. It also helped plants keep more water and have less bad salt in leaves. These changes help plants live through salty or dry times.
Study & Conditions | Plant Species | Treatment | Key Findings Supporting HA Role |
|---|---|---|---|
Alsudays et al. (Saline field) | Barley | HA + 100% phosphorus fertilizer | Grain yield up 64.69%; improved nutrient uptake; better stress tolerance |
Malik et al. (Salinity stress) | Maize | HA + biochar | Increased growth; higher water content; less leaf sodium; reduced oxidative damage |
Abu-Ria et al. (Drought) | Sorghum, Maize | HA seed priming | Stimulated growth; better photosynthesis; improved water retention |
Bijanzadeh et al. (Hydroponic drought) | Maize hybrids | HA + salicylic acid | Improved membrane stability; more chlorophyll; better drought tolerance |
Humic acid acts like a plant hormone. It helps roots branch out and take in more food. It also helps plants fight damage from stress. Humic acid keeps nutrients in the soil and protects plant cells. When farmers use humic acid with other things like biochar or fertilizer, plants grow even better. These facts show why humic acids are important in farming today.
Eco-Farming
Early and Modern Use
Eco-farming has used humic substances for a long time. Long ago, farmers burned rice straw and flooded fields. This made more stable carbon in the soil. It helped the soil stay rich and strong. Old studies show ancient fields had lots of organic matter, sometimes more than today.
Now, farmers still use humic acids to keep soil healthy. Machines and fertilizers have changed the soil, but the goal is the same. Farmers want to build strong carbon and keep soil rich. Scientists use new tools to study humic substances. Farmers use crop leftovers, careful burning, and water control to help soil. These old and new ways show humic acids are still important for farming.
Note: Eco-farming with humic substances keeps soil healthy, helps crops grow, and supports farming for the future.
Application and Effectiveness
Field Use
Rates and Timing
Farmers often wonder how much humic acid to use and when to use it. Using the right amount at the right time helps crops and soil. Research says using about 3.5 liters per hectare works well. This is about 1.5 gallons for each acre. Farmers mix the product with water before spraying it on fields. They use regular farm sprayers for this job. The best time to spray is early in the plant’s life. For maize, it is best before the V6 stage. Spraying between V3 and V6 helps plants grow bigger leaves and stronger roots.
Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
Product | Yield Igniter® humic product (alkaline extracted leonardite ore) |
Application Rate | 3.5 L per hectare (approx. 1.5 gal/acre) |
Dilution | 94 L/ha with tap water |
Application Method | Standard agricultural sprayers, 207-310 kPa pressure |
Timing | Early maize stages: preemergence, V3, V5, V6; not later than V6 |
Crop Response | Larger leaf area, better vegetative growth |
Experts say to use 1 to 5 gallons per acre during the season. Using more does not always help. The best amount depends on the soil, crop, and watering method. Farmers should ask experts to find the best plan for their land.
Tip: Spraying humic acid early helps plants get the most benefit.
Influencing Factors
Soil and Crop Type
How well humic acid works depends on the soil and crop. A three-year study in peanut fields showed better soil and more nutrients. Humic acid made soil enzymes work harder and helped plants grow. The effect on enzymes like urease changed with different crops and soils. Sometimes, humic acid made enzymes work faster. Other times, it slowed them down by making complexes.
Another test with maize in cooler soils showed humic acid helped plants get more phosphorus. It changed the soil and helped good microbes grow. These microbes helped plants take in more food and grow stronger. Reviews show that putting humic acid on soil works best for better crops and soil. Different soils and crops need different plans, so farmers must adjust for each field.
Real-World Results
Case Studies
Farmers and scientists have seen real gains from using humic acid. The table below shows some important results:
Location | Crop | Improvement Type | Measurable Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
Brazil | Coffee | Crop yield | |
India | Rice | Crop yield | 15% increase in harvest |
Various | Multiple crops | Crop yield (general) | Up to 30% increase reported |
Europe | Contaminated soils | Soil health | Restoration of industrial sites |
General | Various crops | Soil structure & nutrients | Improved soil structure and retention |
General | Various crops | Microbial diversity | Enhanced microbial populations |
General | Various crops | Plant resilience | Increased resistance to drought and stress |
Corn yield went up by 15% in one season with humic acid.
Farmers saw better soil and used water more wisely.
Plants grew stronger roots and used food better.
Many farmers used less chemical fertilizer and had tougher plants.
These results show that humic acid can help crops grow, make soil better, and help plants handle stress.
Future Outlook
Trends
Market and Adoption
The global market for humic acid products is growing fast. Farmers and companies see big growth in North America and Europe. These places have strong rules and spend money on research. This helps more people use humic acid. Asia-Pacific is growing even faster. The government gives money to help farmers, and there are many big farms. Companies work hard to make new products. They sell liquid, granular, and powdered humic acid. Most new products are liquid. These are used for spraying on plants and adding to soil. Companies are joining together to get bigger and stronger. People want food that is good for the earth and organic. This makes the market grow more. New technology helps farmers use humic acid better. Digital tools help farmers put humic acid in the right place.
North America and Europe are ahead in using and studying humic acid.
Asia-Pacific is growing the fastest in the market.
Liquid products and digital tools are important trends.
Companies make more types of products and care about the environment.
Note: Experts think the humic acid market will more than double by 2032. This is because people care more about healthy soil and farming that helps the planet.
Research
Innovations
Scientists keep finding new ways to make humic acid work better. They want products to be stronger and safer for the earth. Some new ideas are oil-soluble and causticized humic acid. There are also liquid fulvic acids with extra nutrients and organic liquids. Companies now make blends with minerals for animal feed. They also make water-soluble products that are easy to use. Farmers want special mixes for their crops. Scientists try to make humic acid easier for plants to use. They use AI, data, and soil sensors to help farmers use the right amount. New tests like HPTA help measure humic and fulvic acid better. Public and private groups work together to make new products and test them on farms.
Scientists also look for better ways to get humic acid from soil. Some do not trust the old alkaline extraction method. They want to keep all the good parts of humic substances. Field tests show humic substances help crops like triticale handle stress and grow better. Scientists use omics and other tests to see how humic acid works in plants, especially when plants are stressed.
Sustainability
Regenerative Agriculture
Humic acid research shows these substances are very important for regenerative agriculture. They help soil by making more good microbes and breaking down organic matter. Humic substances grab trace elements like iron, zinc, and copper. This helps plants get more nutrients. Humic acids help break down old plant material and release nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. They also keep soil pH steady and help soil hold nutrients. This makes a good place for plants to grow.
Humic substances make soil better, hold more water, and let in more air.
They help crops get over stress and last longer by raising natural sugars.
Farmers use less chemical fertilizer, which is better for the earth.
Safe ways to get humic acid keep the good microbes in the soil. These ways do not use harsh chemicals or too much heat. This keeps humic substances strong and helps soil stay healthy for a long time. Humic acid research helps farmers learn the best ways to care for soil. This means future farmers will have good, healthy soil too.
The story of humates and humic acid goes back a long time. It started with early science and now helps modern, green farming. Farmers notice better soil, more crops, and soil that holds water longer. But there are still problems. The products can cost a lot, work slowly, and sometimes do not always have the same quality. Studies show organic soils have 44% more humic acid. They also have 13% more organic matter than regular soils.
Farmers who use humic acid help make soil strong and healthy. Will young farmers be the ones to make farming better for the earth?
FAQ
What are humates and humic acid?
Humates are natural materials found in soil, peat, and leonardite. Humic acid is a main part of humates. Both help soil structure, help plants get nutrients, and support plant growth.
How do farmers apply humic acid to crops?
Farmers use sprays, granules, or powders. They put humic acid on soil, seeds, or use it in water systems. Using it early in the season works best.
Can humic acid replace chemical fertilizers?
Humic acid does not take the place of chemical fertilizers. It is used with them. It helps plants use nutrients better and can lower the amount of fertilizer needed.
Is humic acid safe for organic farming?
Yes, humic acid is allowed in organic farming in many places. Certified products come from natural sources and have no fake chemicals.
What crops benefit most from humic acid?
Crops like corn, rice, wheat, vegetables, and fruit trees do well. Humic acid helps roots grow, raises yield, and helps plants handle stress in many crops.
How long does it take to see results from humic acid?
Farmers may see better roots and stronger plants in a few weeks. It can take one or two seasons to see bigger yields and better soil.
Are there risks to using too much humic acid?
Using too much can hurt plants or waste money. Always follow the label and ask experts for help. Too much can cause problems with nutrients or not work as well.
How should farmers choose a humic acid product?
Farmers should pick certified products with clear labels. They should check for quality and pick the right type for their use. Talking to farm experts helps them choose the best one for their soil and crops.