U Mate International
General Information
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Humus has been known and discussed for centuries. Humates and humus are related. The reference to "humus" dates back more than a millennium when it was generally referred to the soil itself. Over time, "humus" referred to organic matter of soils, composts or other aspects of organic matter. Today, humus has come to be referred to as decomposed organic matter. Humus is considered as a complex, formed in soils, composts, peat bogs and parts of plant residues.
Solid organic matter represents several types of humus in an advanced state of decomposition produced from plant residues eons ago and thereafter super imposed by layers of mineral matter. Solid organic matter formation is a process where decomposed plants and animals turn to humus, change to peat, then to lignite, because of tremendous concentration of living bacteria which converted the organic matter to humic acids. Humate is compressed, natural organic humus, containing most of the known trace elements necessary for development of plant life. This may be so because eons ago, humus itself was plant life.
Organic materials and substances play an important part in the formation of fertile soil due to the fact that they are a source of plant nutrients. Organic matter has also a significant effect on the water holding capacity of many soils and plays a role in the plants' abilities to take up nutrients from the soil. Legions of studies demonstrate that organic compounds such as humates have a definite and positive effect on the growth and development of plants.
The addition of organic matter to soil has been recognized for centuries past. In general, there is a wide body of scientific thought that humus influences soil fertility through its effect on water holding capacity. From humus soil, three separate types of acid can be separated. The humic fraction is obtained by using diluted two percent (2%) sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) to separate it in the form of colloidal sot. From this solution, the humic fraction is precipitated by acid leaving a straw yellow supernatant which is the fulvic fraction. The alcohol soluble portion of the humic fraction is generally called ulmic acid. Humates can be utilized as soil conditioners, and soil supplements. It acts chemically with soils whether alkaline or acidic to protect plant roots from excessive amounts of soluble fertilizers placed too close to the seed at planting or to the growing plants when applied as a side or top dressing. For optimal plant development, humates are applied at rates of 100 to 600 lbs. per acre depending on soil conditions, climate conditions and the particular crop. With good soil action, humates can show soil improvement within a few weeks.