Vandenberg
Well-known member
A Quick Overview
Humic and fulvic acids are both humic substances (along with humin). However, there are a few key differences that impact their benefits and how each are best applied.In short, they vary regarding carbon and oxygen content, acidity, degree of polymerization, molecular weight, and color.
Humic acids are large molecules that function best in soil to provide an optimal growing environment.
Fulvic acids are much smaller molecules that work well in both soil and foliar applications, where they transfer vital nutrients through the cell membrane of plants.
They can work in tandem to help boost plant health and increase crop yields.
More about Humic Acids
Humic acids are big molecules, ranging in molecular size from 10,000 to 100,000. They're dark in color and combine mixtures of carbon chains and carbon rings. (In addition to carbon, they also contain oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and phosphorus.) The exact composition of humic molecules varies by source. They're not soluble in water in acid conditions, but are soluble in alkaline solutions. Humic acids work best in the soil, where they readily unlock nutrients and bind to them, making them available for uptake into plants. And they chelate toxic metals, preventing harmful material from entering the plant. Further, they stimulate microbial activity in soil, increase water retention, and stimulate root and shoot growth. They also act as a dilator, increasing the cell wall permeability of plants so that nutrients can be absorbed. They're all-stars of soil, an essential component of every soil environment that help to make the whole system work better. Humic acids can be thought of as the roads, bridges, and tunnels that allow for essential exchanges between the plant and soil. (Although humic acids work best in soil, they're also vital in foliar applications, because they increase the cell wall permeability of plants, which in turn increases the uptake of nutrients.)
More about Fulvic Acids
Fulvic acids are much smaller molecules than humic acids, ranging in molecular size from 1,000 to 10,000. They're soluble in water at all pH levels, unlike humic acids, which are only soluble in alkaline solutions.
There are two types of fulvic acids–fulvates, which are molecules bound to minerals, and free-form fulvic acids.
Fulvic acids consist mostly of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. Like humic acids, they're formed through microbial decay. They are golden in color and are more biologically active than humic acids, due to an oxygen content that is nearly twice that of humic acids. The principal benefit of fulvic acids is their ability to bind to nutrients and transfer those nutrients into plants. In fact, fulvic acids are the most effective carbon containing chelating compound known. This is due to fulvic acids small molecular size and electrical charge. (Although they're small, they can carry many times their own weight in minerals.) Fulvic acids can be thought of as the railcars that carry vital nutrients from the soil into the plant.
originaly by ~earth-green~
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I recently listened to a podcast with Jim Bennett aka "Clackamas Coot" on a "Future Cannabis Project" podcast who highly recommended a premium quality, OMRI certified as organic Fulvic Acid Isolate product called "Ful-Power" that uses a proprietary biological process without the customary use of harsh chemicals resulting in a clean product which will not effect pH or EC.
For a much more scholary take on this Humates subject, this link is an informative read.
Humic Acids: Marvelous Products of Soil Chemistry – download
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I was surprised to learn something rather interesting to me that far-eastern medicine has been recently pioneering the un-patentable concept ( no "big Pharma" money) of using a pure fulvic acid isolate and various medicinal mushrooms compounded together to stimulate healing as part of an anti-cancer/ autoimmunity disease type regimen program ("Fauna Mana"), from what I understand.
"BioAg Ful-Power" is a free-form mineral free formulation that is considered quite pure and is apparently orally ingested by some for medical purposes, (per their Doctors recommendation, I should guess.)
Kids, please do not try sipping this schtuff at home, just saying.
Happy Gardening!
Vandenberg
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