Effects of Humic Acids Extracted from Mined Lignite or Composted Vegetable Residues on Plant Growth and Soil Microbial Populations

Growing interest in the market for humic substances with agricultural applications has led to the development of new potential sources of these compounds other than fossil matrices (e.g. different kinds of lignite), which, until now, have represented the main raw material for the extraction of humus-like products. High quality compost (green compost) obtained through the aerobic biostabilization of selected organic residues, such as vegetable waste from source-collection at garden-produce markets, may be considered for this purpose. Beyond the primary need to develop technically and economically reliable procedures for the extraction of humic substances from compost at the industrial scale, importance must be placed on controlling the influence of such compounds on soil-plant systems. Humates from leonardite, representative of the active agents among humus-based commercial preparations, have been compared in pot trials with humic acids, potassium salts, from green compost in order to evaluate their respective effects on soil microbial activity and plant productivity. Differences between pot blocks amended with humic acids have suggested that humus-like substances extracted from compost seem to exert higher stimulative effects on microbial growth and vegetative biomass production than fossil humates.