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President - GPC

I have humic acid from Ole LongBeard. SHould we spray it in the fall? If so at what rate per 500Sq ft. I have already pulled my soil sample to send in so Im not worried about tainting it now , but I do have a quart of this stuff that looks like it came out of my car.
Doc, Tremor?
ALso what about this granular humic acid? I see that at the nursery with their tree root innoculant.....same stuff?
Does anyone use root stimulant in the spring on their kins also?

11/2/2006 8:40:18 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Gary,

The stuff I have is soil applied at 1/2 oz per 1000 sq ft. So you'd use 1/4 oz. Fall is fine.

What brand & what % Humic Acid is the material you have?

11/3/2006 12:16:06 AM

President - GPC

Steve, LongBeard shared some of his so Im sure hell see this and reply, its pretty thick stuff. Im hoping that using warm water and this high pressure sprayer can disperse it out. I am going to use the granular on the home patch and the liquid up at the nurserys and garden center per your recommended dosage. My soil sample went into Craig last nite so Ill posting that out too soon. Thanks

11/3/2006 8:47:47 AM

Montoursville, PA

Most quality humic acids call for what Steve has stated above. Being conservative....I drop in half an ounce on 1000 ft with the fall prep and and I follow with a like amount in the spring. My organic material in the patch is above fifteen percent before the cover crop is factored in.
....Yes I am aware that this is a bit more...like twice as much as the label calls for. My OM is three or four times average. That's my take.

11/3/2006 1:43:49 PM

President - GPC

I have also seen Humic Acid Ore 45%, with zinc, iron, mag, and trace elements, sounds like all great stuff but I am going to wait for the soil test to see what I really need to add instead of blindly adding it now.
I am an old NAVY submariner, USS DACE, SSN607...... when in subschool, Admiral Rickover would take his fresh out of subschool nuke techs, to the mess hall for dinner. He would invite them to sit at the table, and dine with him. If they added salt or pepper to their dinner before sampling the chow he would rip them a new one and send them down to the torpedo room for several months of duty.
I am often reminded that I too should heed his warning.......

11/3/2006 2:19:37 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

LOL...Understood but a soil test will never tell you whether or not an application of Humic acid is justified or not.

Here is the dilemma. Percent Organic Matter (%OM) is a test based on ignition. The sample is dried, weighed, & weighed again. The difference in weight is turned into a percentage & reported back to you.

This information is almost as useless as boobs on a bull.

Why?

The test fails to account for the AGE of the organic matter.

Fresh organic MATERIAL will burn & be removed as surely as aged organic MATTER. Yet all we are really after (chemically) is the aged STABLE ORGANIC MATTER. Fresh organic materials will test as Organic MATTER even though it haven't yet been reduced to the smallest most potent & effective state.

Should we then skip adding leaves & manures & head right for the humic acid bottle? NEVER. The conversion of humus to humic acid is a constant & vital soil function to which our plants depend.

It's a funny situation. Here is a simple tutorial:

http://cropsoil.psu.edu/courses/turf434/org/organic.html

11/3/2006 3:39:06 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Missing text from the second sentence in the 2nd line.

The sample is dried, weighed, BURNED & weighed again.

Gotta proof read.

11/3/2006 3:40:29 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Thanks Steve, nice short definitive lesson. Short and sweet as usual!! Peace, Wayne

11/4/2006 6:34:02 PM

maine USA

Boobs on a bull Tremor, LOL, that is certainly the politest way that I have seen that term used! KathyT

11/8/2006 1:48:52 PM

Montoursville, PA

It is thought that the humic acid gingerly used helps the finished compost and compost parts in process to deliver product not even understood or named, to the plant roots for uptake and ultimate use. Best I can explain what I think is happening at this point is: All becomes one and it happens.
...May I point out that we have no absolute definition for the word it in this context. In ZEN it has absolutely no known meaning. There does not have to be definition when it happens. Science demands answers and reason. Biology just happens and may never stand still for scientific reasoning.

11/8/2006 8:29:35 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

Steve, Great link! Thanks.

11/10/2006 8:54:17 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

I am absolutely amazed, and overwhelmingly pleased the Doc, is talkin Zen!!!!! Did he tell anybody about makin a trip to Tibet??? Peace, Wayne I bet he used to run with John Lennon!!!!!!!!!!

11/11/2006 6:52:48 PM