HUMIC ACID: THE CRUCIAL DIFFERENCE IN FERTILIZERS

The preference to consume organically grown crops has already reached commercial levels. The general notion is that these crops are to be grown free from any pesticide, herbicide, fertilizers and other synthetic interventions. Natural and organic farming is in, and its popularity is growing. To prevent bias, it is interesting to know what really are fertilizers. They are natural or artificial substances which are added to soil or applied directly to crop foliage to supply elements needed for plant nutrition as means to increase crop production. Fertilizers can change soil fertility and correct yield limiting factors. They come in different forms. Most typical are the granular form. Others are semi-solids, slurry suspensions, pure liquids or even gasses.

Adding substances to the soil to improve its growing capacity began in the early days of agriculture. Ancient farmers found out that the first yields on a plot of land were much better than the subsequent years. This caused them to move to open new uncultivated areas. But these showed the same pattern of reduced yields over time. It was discovered eventually that plant growth could be enhanced by spreading animal manure. Egyptians are known to have introduced burned weeds to soil. Other materials added were sea-shells, clay and vegetable waste. It was also known that growing leguminous plants prior to growing wheat or rice was beneficial. Fertilizers opened the way towards sustainable agriculture. Without fertilizers, the Benguet Rice Terraces may not be there anymore.

All fertilizers contain the macronutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K). Inorganic fertilizers are synthetic. They are produced in ways which theoretically cannot be continued indefinitely. Potassium and phosphorus come from mines and such resources are limited. Artificial nitrogen fertilizers are typically synthesized using fossil fuels from natural gas and coal. Because of limited supply, the rise in prices of inorganic fertilizers is here to stay pushing further the price of food. While crop yield improves, the cost of synthetic fertilizers eats up the profits from farming.

Inorganic fertilizer use significantly supports global population growth. It is estimated that almost half the people on the Earth are currently fed as a result of artificial nitrogen fertilizer use. The noble intent to sufficiently feed the growing population ironically still results in hunger as food prices continue to rise because of its dependence to synthetic inputs which are of short supply and not endemically available in agriculture economies like the Philippines.

Like its synthetic counterpart, organic fertilizers also contains N-P-K macronutrients. Naturally-occurring organic fertilizers include manure, composts, worm castings, peat, bone meal, fish meal, seaweed, guano and humic acid. By their nature, organic fertilizers increase physical and biological nutrient storage mechanisms in soils, preventing risks of over-fertilization which increases soil acidity. Hard soil surface usually indicates extreme acidity.

Technically, humic acid is not a fertilizer as it does not directly provide nutrients to plants. It is a compliment to fertilizer. Humic acid benefits the microorganisms in soil which are responsible for the degradation of dead plant matter. Like a candy to a child, humic acid makes soil microbes happy. Stimulated, they break up compacted soils, allowing for enhanced water penetration and better root zone growth and development. Soil ability to retain and not leach out vital plant nutrients is enhanced. Organic matter is added to organically deficient soils, thereby improving root vitality and nutrient uptake, increasing chlorophyll synthesis, and heightens fertilizer retention. All these lead to better seed germination, healthier plants, and improved harvests.

Choose a humic acid that is liquid, not granular, usually those that are mixed with foliar fertilizer preparations. The granule form takes about two weeks to be fully assimilate in soil. During this standby period, it may be carried away by rain water or even irrigation pressure, specially in rice farms. The best time to spray direct to the soil is a day after plowing. Once plowed, the bottom part of the earth is put on top which is directly exposed to sunlight. While the intent of plowing is to loosen the soil by putting the hard surface to the bottom and helping organic materials decompose, exposing microbes directly to ultraviolet rays kill them. A mist of humic acid on newly plowed plot is a bath to microbes which strengthens and causes them to rapidly reproduce.

For best results, the next application of humic acid should be after three days from transplanting in rice or when seeds start to germinate for corn or peanut, propagules in cassava, and similarly for other crops. Humic supplementation builds growth momentum in plants. Threats against good harvest such as the unpredictable onset of extreme weather conditions and pests infestation, somehow is mitigated by the influence of humus in building the plants' ability to defend itself . Applying humic acid to the soil reduces the need for nitrogen fertilizer supplementation by up to 50%. Indeed, this is big savings to the farmer.

But something which enhances the benefits of fertilizers and at the same time neutralizes its undesirable effects? Seems unbelievable but true! Over the past 30 to 40 years when green revolution was launched and synthetic fertilizers were introduced, soil was bombarded with inorganic fertilizers and planting genetically modified crop strains in the hope of generating food sufficiency for a growing world population. The promised reward was much wealth from farming. Everybody rushed to join the bandwagon. Too much of the good thing, however, produced adverse effects. Soil became acidic. Inappropriate use of nitrogen fertilizers, over-cultivation, removal of crop cover or clearing of farms, among others, increased soil acidity. Most agricultural products are slightly alkaline. Their total removal result in acidification. Humus, however, promotes soil fertility and balances the acidity brought about by inorganic fertilizers.

Some farmers practice the application of lime in farming. Being alkaline, lime helps. Lime, however, is a binder, a material used in the manufacture of cement. True, it can alkalinize the soil but it can also harden it. In effect, it provides resistance to deeper root growth compromising the maximum potential of crop production.

The beauty of humus is that it does not only alkalinize the soil but it also promotes soil fertility. Humus is nature's way of enriching the soil. By helping develop deeper root reach in plants, it utilizes the accumulated subterranean fertilizer deposits which otherwise could have been wasted. By tapping beneficial microbial activity, it restores their role which was snatched from them by man's pursuit for gain. By making the soil loose, it sustains the breath of Mother Earth. So next time you look for the right organic fertilizer, think humic. Read the fine print and make sure you find humic acid in it. It makes a big difference. Not all fertilizers are similar, those with humic acid are the first among equals. 

                                                                                                                                                                       Let's discuss some earth-friendly farming insights.  Pls contact - text: 0917-632-1116 or email: wcyharvestpsalms@gmail.com

WISDOM IN RICE PLANTING

Last week, I had a chance to accompany a lecturer on alternative rice farming.   I was his driver while going around farm-villages in Ubay, Bohol spreading his advocacy. Impressed, his approach to organic farming carried a lot of sense.  Accordingly, in traditional rice farming a hectare of ricefield requires one sack to one and a half sacks of palay  for seedling purposes.  A sack of palay weighs around 40 kilos. Certified seeds costs Php25.00 a kilo while the hybrid varieties can go as high as P300.00 per kilo.  But the requirement is reduced to 20 kilos. Certified seeds, however, covered by government subsidies costs Php15.00 only but seed choices are very limited.  For a hectare of riceland, the seed cost ranges from Php1,000.00 to Php6,000.00 depending on the variety and source.

Unbelievably, the alternative approach requires only 5 to 8 kilos of certified seeds, drastically reducing the seed  costs to P200.00. Immersing a kilo of seeds  in a gallon of water mixed with 150 grams of rock salt effectively separates the good seeds from the bad ones.  Salt increases the water's buoyancy, thereby making the bad seeds float, separating them from the good ones which stay in the bottom.  The selected seeds should be washed twice with clean water before they are spread for planting in the seedbed. A handful of seeds occupies a square meter of seedbed.  A kilo of palay consists around 40,000 seeds.

Why the too low seed input?  Actually, it is in the farming practice which makes the difference and not on the kind of seeds as many among us would likely think and were made to believe.  Since the recommended planting distance is 30 centimeters apart, twice more compared to the traditional practice, there will be less seedlings needed.  Each hill requires only one seedling, not the usual 3 to 4 or even more. This allows the seedling to develop more tillers from 17 to as many as 30 because it has greater space for itself, solely giving it almost unrestricted access to soil nutrients and sunshine.  The soil can also rest, avoiding stress since it supplies to less demand from the plants above it. Comparatively, a crowding approach by planting three or more seedlings result in less number of tillers, from 7 to 10.  A healthy seedling has a strong immune system which can defend itself against diseases and pests. This leads to  more and better quality harvests.

Bottomline, the farmer saves.  Less seeds mean a provision for the family table.  Imagine 8 kilos compared to 60  kilos which translates to reduced seed cost generating savings up to P5,000.00.  It means food on the table for the average Filipino family of 5 good for a month or extra cash which maybe used for electricity,  access to better health service, clothing, education or savings for the rainy days, so to speak.   Less number of seedlings also means, less farm workers required in the process of transplanting seedlings  there  being  approximately 80,000  seedlings to plant compared to the usual 1,600,000 seedlings.   This is another profit center. Surprisingly, less is more. We ought to have more like this lecturer who understands the earth and shares his wisdom on how farming is made simpler and wiser. 

A big difference indeed which means a lot  to a rice growing country.  The Philippine economy is largely agricultural.  Sadly, it is unfortunate that majority of the farmers belong to the marginal income group.  Rice farming modernization entails a large amount of farm inputs but ironically results in low profitability.  Despite of genetically enhanced seeds for better pest resistance and higher yields, stronger and more potent chemical fertilizers, increased rice gate prices, better to farm to market roads, aggressive land reform program , still  the  rice farmer is at the tail end of all these hurdles.  Perhaps, there is need  to look back and listen to the earth more intently for better understanding.  Let us put ourselves to task  by promoting this back-to-basics approach to help improve the plight of our farmers. Jose Rizal, our national hero, said " We cannot all be doctors, somebody must till the land."

Let's discuss some earth-friendly farming insights. Pls contact - text: 0917-632-1116 or  email:  wcyharvestpsalms@gmail.com