Humic Acid & Clay Soils

About Clay Soil

• Clay-based soils contain fine grain minerals, particularly aluminium silicate. The fine grain of clay soil will become sticky when wet and crack when it shrinks and dries. Clay soils will also compress and tightly compact as the fine particles slip together and bind over time. The fine grains and particles of clay soil make it difficult for water to penetrate and be retained or roots of plants to expand and grow.

What Is Humic Acid?

• As plant and animal matter decays and decomposes, it creates a dark brown substance known as humus. Humic acid is the bio-chemical rich liquid that is extracted from humus. Humic acid is not considered a nutritional fertilizer, but a soil conditioner. As a soil conditioner, humic acid breaks up clay soil, allowing the plant roots to absorb more of the nutrients in your fertilizer.

Benefits

• Not only will humic acid improve nutrient uptake for your plant's roots, but it will break up clay soil and allow better water retention. Plant health is improved because more oxygen is introduced into the clay soil. When soil has sufficient aeration, water can fill the air pockets, giving the plant roots access to the water and nutrients. Humic acid will release nutrients that have been trapped in the clay soil and inaccessible to the roots.

How to Use

• Humic acid is not regulated and there are many organic companies selling it in various concentrates in either dry or liquid form. You cannot add too much humic acid to your clay soil, so the concentration should be richer, rather than a diluted. Application of liquid form humic acid to your lawn and garden should be done using a hose-end sprayer. Dry humic acid can be broadcasted over an area. Humic acid can be mixed with your fertilizer and applied at the same time.