The Sorrows and Joys of Humic Acid Fertilizers (Forwarded)

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Humic acid fertilizers are products made from raw materials such as peat and lignite, using various production methods, to yield substances rich in humic acid as well as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and certain trace elements necessary for plant growth and development. It is equivalent to an organic-inorganic compound fertilizer and belongs to the category of typical green, environmentally friendly fertilizers. Its functions are mainly reflected in the following aspects: First, improving the soil. Applying humic acid fertilizers can promote the formation of soil aggregate structure, thereby improving the soil’s water and nutrient retention capacity as well as its nutrient supply capacity ； Reduce the toxicity of aluminum ions and the harm caused by excessively high salt concentrations. 　　 　　Second, increase available nutrients. Humic acid fertilizers contain a certain amount of readily available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as some trace elements; they also help to make phosphorus more available, reduce its fixation, and improve the efficiency of phosphorus fertilizers. 　　 　　Third, stimulate crop growth. Humic acid fertilizers can enhance the activity of various enzymes and strengthen the redox processes in plants. Therefore, it can promote seed germination and root growth, enhance the roots’ ability to absorb water and nutrients, increase tillering or branching, and accelerate maturity. 　　 　　However, in our country, most manufacturers of humic acid fertilizers operate on a small scale, suffer from lack of funds, poor technical conditions, and outdated production processes. This results in high production costs and high energy consumption; the products produced have poor appearance and unstable quality, which severely affects their effectiveness in application. Furthermore, the lack of unified standards for implementation and testing results in a poor quality of products, which not only disrupts the fertilizer market but also severely hinders the promotion and use of high-quality humic acid fertilizers. This must be regarded as a \"tragedy\" for the humic acid fertilizer market. However, with the development of ecological agriculture and the implementation of the \"zero growth\" policy for chemical fertilizers, humic acid fertilizers will seize favorable opportunities and experience significant growth. 　 　　According to the \"National Soil Pollution Status Report\" released by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Land and Resources, soil pollution is severe in some areas of China, and the environmental quality of soil in agricultural land is concerning. The overall rate of soil contamination across the country is 16.1%, while the rate of contamination in agricultural land sites is 19.4%. Our country is a major agricultural nation, with over 70% of its arable land being medium- or low-yield fields that urgently need improvement and enhancement in quality. Recently, the \"Action Plan for Soil Pollution Prevention and Control\" approved by the Ministry of Environmental Protection proposes that by 2020, 200 pilot sites for soil pollution remediation should be established across the country, with the quality of agricultural soil meeting the required standards in about 50% of cases. Humic acid plays an important role in improving soil quality, and it is set to experience significant development opportunities in the future. 　　 　　Furthermore, at the beginning of this year, the Ministry of Agriculture reviewed and approved in principle a plan for zero growth in fertilizer use, and in mid-March, this zero-growth plan was implemented nationwide. According to the \"Action Plan for Zero Growth in Fertilizer Use by 2020\" issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, it is necessary to adjust the structure of fertilizer use, promote the optimization and upgrading of fertilizer products, and vigorously promote efficient new types of fertilizers. The application effects of humic acid fertilizers as new types of high-efficiency fertilizers have become evident. According to data from the Humic Acid Industry Association, under identical nutrient conditions, the use of humic acid-based compound fertilizers for wheat and corn results in varying degrees of increased yield and revenue compared to conventional compound fertilizers. It is expected that in the future, humic acid fertilizers will play an important role in achieving zero or negative growth in the use of chemical fertilizers. 　 　　Furthermore, China is rich in humic acid resources, with large reserves, wide distribution, and high quality, which provides the raw material basis for the development of humic acid fertilizers. According to relevant statistics, China has 12.48 billion tons of peat, ranking fourth in the world ； 126.5 billion tons of lignite, along with a large amount of weathered coal. In terms of applying biotechnology, by further screening for superior strains and accelerating the development of targeted strains, the resources available for producing biochemical humic acid or biochemical fulvic acid products will be virtually unlimited. 　 　　At present, there are over 1,000 humic acid fertilizer manufacturers in our country, making it the largest producer of such fertilizers in the world. In order to enhance the competitiveness of the humic acid fertilizer industry and promote its healthy development, on May 29, 2015, the Humic Acid Fertilizer Professional Committee of the China Humic Acid Industry Association was established in Beijing. 　　It is expected that in the future, with the development of modern agriculture and the standardized, regulated, and unified operation of the humic acid industry, humic acid fertilizers will reach a new level of quality. Zeng Xiancheng, president of the China Humic Acid Industry Association, said, “In the future, humic acid will incorporate medium and trace elements; by combining with fertilizers, it will benefit the soil and help the fertilizer industry enter the 4.0 era.” ” Shanxi Farmers’ Newspaper