Influence of Humic Substances on Soil Health, Fertilizer and Water Use Efficiency

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1 Influence of Humic Substances on Soil Health, Fertilizer and Water Use Efficiency Mir M. Seyedbagheri Professor/Soil Agronomist Far West Winter Conference

2 The history of every nation is eventually written in the way in which it cares for its soil F.D.R.

3 Crop Production is on the frontline in the fight against world hunger and poverty Jacques Diouf Director-General, FAO 1. By 2050 the world population will double 2. Crop production will need to double 3. Soil organic matter has declined drastically all around the world 4. We need to become smarter at maximising our resources 5. Water quantity and quality are declining 6. Soils are becoming salt affected and diseased 7. Cost of production is increasing 8. We have to create an innovative soil and plant nutrient math

4 Soil as a Living Tissue Soil may be defined as a biological entity similar to a living tissue with complex biochemical reactions (Quastel, 1946). 4

5 Soil is a living system Since 1900 soil organic matter drastically declined in the US and all over the world. U.S. loses more than 2 billion tons of topsoil each year through erosion. 5

6 Soil Organic Matrix A large proportion (50 100% of soil organic matter) is bound onto the mineral matrix of soil. P. Leinweber et al. Institute of Biophysics and Biochemistry University of Regensburg What happens when we lose soil stable humus???? 6

7 Benefits of adding O.M. For every 1% improvement in S.O.M. you achieve $750/acre of free nutrients. Your soil water holding capacity increases 3.2 times for every 1% O.M. increase. *Kirk Lawton, editor of Corn & Soybean Digest 7

8 Stable Soil Humus 1% OM 3% OM 8

9 Reality check??? What percentage of harvested crops, fruits, vegetables etc are made of C H O? 9

10 God provides seed to sow, food to eat; multiplies the seed sown and increases our righteousness. 2 Cor. 9:10 10

11 Plant Composition Content % C, H, & O = 96.6% C O H N K Ca P S Mg fe

12 Soil Composition Air Roots Sand, Silt & Clay Minerals Micro Pore Space Macro Pore Space Organic Matter Chemicals 12

13 13

14 How H.S. influences S & P (metabolism) Carbon (aromatic) Carbon (aliphatic) Oxygen Nitrogen Hydrogen

15 H.S. Molecules/Puzzles Humic Acids are super-mixtures Understanding the chemistry is very complex. 15

16 CLARK S LAW Any sufficiently advanced science is indistinguishable from magic.

17 STURGEON S LAW 90% of everything is crap.

18 CLARK S LAW + STURGEON S LAW 90% of advanced science is magical crap

19 FIRST LAW OF TEACHING Be incomprehensible. If they cannot understand, they cannot disagree.

20 CLARK S LAW + STURGEON S LAW + FIRST LAW OF TEACHING =

21 90% of advanced science is incomprehensible crap that no one can disagree with.

) Effects on Plant Physiology and Morphology Plant Species Age *Enhanced Metabolic

22 Culture Conditions Soil fertility HS placement Humic Substance Source Concentration Size (molecular wt.) Effects on Plant Physiology and Morphology Plant Species Age *Enhanced Metabolic Activity *Seed Germination Text *Seedling growth *Shoot Development *Root Initiation and Development *Enhanced adsorption of macro- and micro-nutrients (e.g. NO3 - )

23 Increased ramification of fine roots upon exposure to WEHS in maize seedlings (from Pinton et al. 1999) WEHS = Water Extractable humic substance: ave. molecular weight < 1000 Da

24 HOW H.S. ENHANCE CROP PRODUCTION H.S. are the unique natural accumulators of biochemical energy created by green plants during the uptake of the sun energy due to photosynthesis H.S. aren t the only universal depot of carbon and energy but possess a big biological potential that makes them an analog of ATP for biosphere Chuko,

25 Answering Big X for production efficiency H.S. = biochemical energy = S & P metabolism H.S. are the connecting links to crop production efficiency and soil water quality 25

26 Plant is carbon pump Plants may be perceived as small solar panels. They convert light particles (photons) into flow of electrons. This will provide the energy for the conversion of CO2 & H2O to starch. *EARS

27 Organic Porphyrins Furnished by H.S. Assist plants in trapping light energy Assist in the transfer of that energy through electron transport system Accelerates the various growth mechanisms of plant through improved photosynthesis 27

28 Farming is transforming sunlight into $$$$$$ Photosynthesis: capture C energy =Make it Transpiration: moves C energy =Move it Respiration: re manufacture C energy =Use it (yield)

29 Right H.S. / Plant Nutrient Math Amount α 2 = Kt Materials Reduce cost Benefit the environment Improve yield and quality 29

Humic Substances Influence 3 Dimensions of

Stimulant Properties ex: Biopolymer Precursors

30 Humic Substances Influence 3 Dimensions of Soil Physical ex: H20 infiltration Chemical ex: N mineralization Biological ex: microbial development VAM, mycorrhizae, etc Plant Stimulant Properties ex: Biopolymer Precursors NH 2 NH 2 HOOC HOOC O HO OH O O OH O C OH O OH O Mir- Walker

31 Organic Acids/Soil Aggregates 31

32 Dynamics of H.S. How do they work? Transmission electron micrograph of a 0.01% (w/v) HA solution. The scale: 0.4 cm = 1 μm. HAs and FAs form flat elongated multi-branched filaments of 20 to 100 nm in width. Smallest 32 particles are spheroids of 9-12 nm in diameter.

33 Illustrative Dynamics of poly disperse polyanions 33

34 Functional Groups in Humates Carboxyl CO2H Phenol OHp Hydroxyl OHa Ketone C=O Ester O=C O R Ether C O C Amine NH2, NH, N 34

35 Effect of functional group ionization on conformation of Humic Substances t Non-ioinized-tight conformation COOH groups ionized-molecule begins to relax H-bonding Both COOH and phenolic OH groups ionized molecule completely relaxed

36 Dissolution of Soil Minerals by H.S. Dissolution process is governed by diffusion or first order of reaction. Acid dissolution reactions: 2 α = Kt α = ratio of cations removed from mineral to the total amount initially present K = diffusion rate constant t = time of dissolution Dissolution products = chelates = soil genesis & fertility 36

37 Effects of ph, Temp. & organic & inorganic ions on the dissolution kinetics of H.S. particles Brigante, Sept. of Agronomy, Argentina The results of Dr. Brigante s work show: The dissolution kinetics of solid H.S. particles in strongly dependent on ph & Temp In general, anionic species tend to accelerate dissolution rate, whereas cationic tend to slow down the rate. 37

38 PROPERTY OF HUMIC SUBSTANCES Cation exchange Honest Banker with 0% Interest Five Times the Profit Margin Buffer effect Soil s Advanced Handyman Buffers Variability in Soil Elements 38

Nutrient Exchange Clay CEC 20 to 40 ------- Organic Acids CEC 250 to 500 Fixed Slowly

39 Nutrient Exchange Clay CEC 20 to Organic Acids CEC 250 to 500 Fixed Slowly Available Exchangeable More Available Water Soluble Readily Available Clay Particle Organic Acid 39

40 Effect of Humic Substances on Plant Metabolism IAA Nutrient Aquisition-NO3 - pmh + -ATPase Root Epidermal Cell 4. More H+-ATPase actvity = more of a gradient to support more NO3- influx and citrate efflux. Humic Acid H + H + H + H + H + H + H + Outside of cell is + 1. LMWHS acts at transcriptional level to induce production of Mha2-mRNA ATP ADP + Pi Inside of cell is - 3. More pmh + -ATPase is produced Text Mha2-mRNA Mha2 gene 2. More Mha2-mRNA is produced LMWHS Citric Acid Nucleus Cytoplasm Mha2 gene codes for pmh+-atpase Citrate anion channel (after Quaggiotti et al. 2004) Plasmalemma

41 Variation in Soil Fertility 41

42 Variations in soil fertility & how H.S. helps to buffer

43 H. S./pH effect on nutrient availability & buffering 43

44 Buffering Properties of HS Potentiometric titration studies clearly indicate that H.S. and their salts act as natural soil buffers. Warchulska, 2008 Electromagnetic induction (EM38) 44

45 Yield variation 38t/ha 108t/ha 45

46 Buffering Soil Variability After 4 years of using H.S. saline/alkaline soil 46

47 Properties of H.S. Combined with soil minerals function as a soil architect creating a foundation for healthy soil Chelation = matchmaker ions are happily married Mineralization: Smart soil accountant = positive cash flow 47

48 Effect of Humic Substances on Plant Growth Untreated Controls Treated with Humic Substance Inter-row Corn at 6-8th vegetative leaf stage

49 H.S. and N. Mineralization These nutrients are stored in soil organisms These nutrients are useable by plants, and mobile in soil Organisms retain nutrients as they grow 49

50 H.S. influence on N.M. & Soil Health

51 Effect of Humic Substances in Plant Growth: Plant Physiology and Morphology Alfalfa-not treated Alfalfa-treated with 2 g/acre

52 This can happen in your soil with salt overload Is there any space left for other nutrients? 52

53 H.S. chelation of salt Chelation techniques that capture the metal icons and release the chlorine in salt can break the salt molecule. Higher levels of H.A. chelate greater levels of salt. Chen and Stevenson 53

54 Organo mineral complexes: Their effects on physico/chemical properties New model shows that HS are adsorbed to the mineral components of soils, clays & hydroxides in particular, thereby playing an important role in the determination of aggregate stability. ph, ionic strength, and nature of exchangeable cation on the clay surface play a very important role. Yuna Chen, The Hebrew University 54

55 55

56 Clay humic association via binding HS to clay by cationic bridges 56

57 How H.S. helps soil micro-pores Roots, water, and nutrients reside in micro pore space Oxygen resides in macro pore space 1 c.m. is 10,000,000 n.m

58 Glomalin in aggregate Glomalin (bright green) is a sticky substance that creates tiny soil aggregates. 58

59 H.S. INFLUENCE SOIL HEALTH Soil microbes inhabiting the surface of clay-humus crumb, glowing under UV light, stained with acridine orange, as seen under a high-resolution Leitz microscope. Source: Siegfried Luebke's CMC Group Laboratory; Peuerbach,Austria. 59

60 H.S. effect on soil health and water use efficiency 60

61 Soil management zone Organic carbon impacts soil health and productivity 61

62 An emphasis on understanding our soils, total Carbon and soil texture. Soil texture influences our most valuable resource WATER. Need to do a sieve analysis for % of sand-silt-clay 62

63 General concept of base saturation Bases Ideal Calcium-% of CEC Magnesium-% of CEC Potassium- % of CEC 2-6 Sodium- % of CEC <5 Hydrogen- % of CEC <15 63

64 Nutrient Ratios Ratio Ideal Ca:Mg 6-20:1 Ca:P ph>7 100:1 Ca:P ph<7 40:1 P:Zn 15:1 64

65 GENERAL CONCEPT FOR MACRO & MICRO NUTRIENT RATIOS N:S 10:1 Ca:Mg 6 20:1 Ca:K ph>7 15:1 Ca:K ph<7 10:1 Ca:P ph>7 100:1 Ca:P ph<7 40:1 P:Zn 15:1 P:Mn 4:1 P:Cu 25:1 Zn:Cu 2:1 Mn:Zn 3:1 Mn:Cu 5:1 K:B 200:1 Mg:K 2:1 65

66 L.H. & water use efficiency 66

67 Influence of L.H. on water use efficiency L.H. 8 gal L.H. 4 gal L.H. 2 gal 67

68 Liquid Humus influence on water sequestration Watermark studies of the plots showed an average of 11.2% water sequestration 68

69 This happens to calcium if ph goes over 8 Ca OVERLOAD 69

70 Influence of H.S. on sulfur in the soil O.M. S SO4 T.B. Ca++ + So4 Ca++ So4 (gypsum) So4 + H2O H2So4 (Sulfric Acid) 70

71 112 71

72 72

73 73

74 Yield variation 38t/ha 108t/ha 74

75 75

76 76

77 Fertilizer Math and H.S. influence on fertilizer use efficiencies Nitrogen: 50-85% efficient, most lost to leaching, some to denitrification, volatilization & fixed to crop residue, even plant evolves N to atmosphere. Phosphorus: 10-47% efficient, most lost to soil fixation at ph < 6.3 Al, Fe & > 7.0 Ca Potassium: 40-75% efficient, most loss due to fixation between clay layers, some to leaching 77

78 There is a science behind good quality H.A. F.A. & Humin Effect of Humic Acids on Plant Morphology and Physiology

79 Effect of Humic Substances on Plant Metabolism IAA Nutrient Aquisition-NO3 - pmh + -ATPase Root Epidermal Cell 4. More H+-ATPase actvity = more of a gradient to support more NO3- influx and citrate efflux. Humic Acid H + H + H + H + H + H + H + Outside of cell is + 1. LMWHS acts at transcriptional level to induce production of Mha2-mRNA ATP ADP + Pi Inside of cell is - 3. More pmh + -ATPase is produced Text Mha2-mRNA Mha2 gene 2. More Mha2-mRNA is produced LMWHS Citric Acid Nucleus Mha2 gene codes for pmh+-atpase on Zea mays. Citrate anion channel (after Quaggiotti et al. 2004) Cytoplasm Plasmalemma

80 PRISTENE BIOMARKER Pristene is most likely derived from the phytol side chain of cholophyll Pristene is thus a marker of photosynthetic activity Precursors of sterenes include C27 algal and C29 plant sterols 80

81 Cell Respiration Glycosides are important stimulators of cell respiration Sterols are the initial materials for the synthesis or manufacturing of hormones. 81

82 H.S./Elements Interact Mulder s chart Interaction of Elements Synergize Increase availability to plant Antagonize Decrease availability to plant P Cu Mn Ca K Fe Mg Mo Zn N B 82

83 New Findings by Humate Industries Across the World on Influence of HS on Soil Health and Crop Production. USA, Russia, Israel, Australia, Spain, chez Republic Turkey, Netherlands, China and Germany 83

84 Their findings 1. Increase crop production by 10 40% 2. Accelerate the ripening period 5 10 days 3. Improved nutritional quality 4. Increased plant s resistance to disease, frost damage and drought 84

85 THEIR FINDINGS 5. Decrease the content of nitrates and other harmful substances in fruit 6. Improve nutritional quality of vegetable crops 7. Have soluble silicon substances that ensure stem durability to mechanical impacts 85

86 Scientific findings on the affects of HS on soil and plant metabolism Transmission electron micrograph of the Humic Acid Solution 86

87 DIRECT EFFECTS SUMMARY EFFECTS ON MEMBRANES RESULTING IN IMPROVED TRANSPORT OF NUTRITIONAL ELEMENTS ENHANCES PROTEIN SYNTHESIS PLANT HORMONE LIKE ACTIVITY ENHANCED PHOTOSYNTHESIS EFFECTS ON ENZYME ACTIVITY 87

88 INDIRECT EFFECTS SOLUBILIZATION OF MICRONUTRIENTS (e.g. Fe, Zn, Mn) & SOME MACRONUTRIENTS (e.g. K, Ca,P) SUMMARY REDUCTION OF ACTIVE LEVELS OF TOXIC ELEMENTS ENHANCEMENT OF MICROBIAL POPULATIONS 88

89 SUMMARY H.S. of various origins enhance root growth with either nutrients solution or foliar application Both elongation and formation of root initials are affected. 89

90 Thank You 90

Dynamics and Functionalities of O.A. on Fertilizer, Water-use Efficiency and Soil Health. Mir M. Seyedbagheri Professor/Soil Agronomist

Dynamics and Functionalities of O.A. on Fertilizer, Water-use Efficiency and Soil Health Mir M. Seyedbagheri Professor/Soil Agronomist Produced 2014 Future of Crop Production Jacques Diouf Director-General,