1. Preliminary Actions
We suggest that a preliminary soil test be conducted on your planting area to determine your soil’s NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potash) and pH needs. You can purchase a simple test kit from a local nursery, online or have your state agricultural extension service perform it for you.*

2. Application Methods
There are two ingredients necessary to activate humates: water and soil. Humates have the ability to both raise the ph in alkaline soils and lower the ph in acidic soils. These attributes of moving the soil’s environment towards a neutral ph of 7 enables healthy microbial growth to flourish, creating a living soil. Humates must be mixed into the first 6 to 12 inches of your soil. This can be achieved by broadcasting humates over the planting area and then tilling or raking them in. Humates can also be blended into compost or manures that will be applied to your soil. Since humates need soil to activate, side dressing is not advised. **

3. Determining the Amount to Use
Our application guidelines are based on “normal soils” which we define as any soil from which a viable crop can be produced. Though humates will enhance the uptake of commercial fertilizers, its ability to be in tune with the plant’s needs is what separates it from plant stimulants. Humates will not harm root systems. Seeds planted in a 100% medium of humates will grow.

Though humates are used extensively to remediate depleted soil and to detoxify polluted soils, our recommended poundage per sq. ft. is focused on the farmer’s existing productive fields (see table below). You may find areas where during your application more humates have gathered and where the plants in these areas seem to thrive. This is an indication that more humates were needed. You may find upon testing your soils at the end of the growing season that your NPK reading has actually risen; thus the following application of humates can be lessened. In all cases you will discover a richer concentration of healthy microbial activity by evidence of more earthworms and greater soil friability.

4. When to Apply
Humate application should be renewed yearly. Humates will begin to activate immediately. If applied in the fall or late winter their benefits will be ready at spring planting. If applied in early spring results will be noticed within 6 weeks. Humates interact chemically with the soil. During warmer weather, this process is speeded up.

* Soil testing should be done after the soil has warmed, whether you take the soil inside for this or the testing is done in the field, as microbial activity affects the nitrogen reading.

** Some farmers have planted two identical rows of crops, one with and one without humates, to assess their benefits.