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leonardite...anyone using this?

M

mr-natural78

Member
I saw this at a local garden center. Does anyone use it? Can anyone give some pros and cons of it's use or application advice? Thanks
 
Azeotrope

Azeotrope

Well-known member
Veteran
You have to be careful of the source. Some deposits/sources have a lot of metals/toxic crap in them. A lot of stuff from Utah for $10 - 12 a bag in some western states, but I recently read a report on the heavy metals in most of it. If clean, it is an excellent amendment.
 
Y

Yankee Grower

Azeotrope said:
You have to be careful of the source. Some deposits/sources have a lot of metals/toxic crap in them. A lot of stuff from Utah for $10 - 12 a bag in some western states, but I recently read a report on the heavy metals in most of it. If clean, it is an excellent amendment.
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What report? What metals and toxic crap? Please link to any tests or references. What ppm level of what heavy metal do you consider clean?
 
Y

Yankee Grower

Ras Mason said:
Most fulvic acids are derived from leonardite and also lignite.
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Leonardite is the formal name for a specific lignite deposit in North Dakota named after Dr. Leonard who discovered it. There are other lignite deposits but those deposits are not Leonardite even though they are lignite.

comme ci, comme ça? meaning...you agree?
 
M

mr-natural78

Member
CT Guy said:
Most humic acids are derived from Leonardite. Check out www.teravita.com
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Thanks for the link CTGuy. I had already googled it and knew that humic acids were derived from it. That's what made me consider using it. I was curious about the application of raw leonardite in my soil mix. According to the the link you posted the application of raw leonardite is less effective than the liquid application. That site has a ton of info on it. I will read more of it later.
 
Clackamas Coot

Clackamas Coot

Active member
Veteran
Humic Acid & Heavy Metals

Humic Acid & Heavy Metals

Fractionation Of Heavy Metals And Distribution Of Organic Carbon In Two Contaminated Soils Amended With Humic Acids

Department of Soil and Water Conservation and Organic Waste Management
Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura
CSIC. Apartado 164
30100 Espinardo
Murcia, Spain

Abstract

The effects of humic acids (HAs) extracted from two different organic materials on the distribution of heavy metals and on organic-C mineralisation in two contaminated soils were studied in incubation experiments. Humic acids isolated from a mature compost (HAC) and a commercial Spaghnum peat (HAP) were added to an acid soil (pH 3.4; 966 mg kg(-1) Zn and 9,229 mg kg(-1) Pb as main contaminants) and to a calcareous soil (pH 7.7; 2,602 mg kg(-1) Zn and 1,572 mg kg(-1) Pb as main contaminants) at a rate of 1.1g organic-C added per 100g soil. The mineralisation of organic-C was determined by the CO(2) released during the experiment. After 2, 8 and 28 weeks of incubation the heavy metals of the soils were fractionated by a sequential extraction procedure.

After 28 weeks of incubation, the mineralisation of the organic-C added was rather low in the soils studied (<8% of TOC in the acid soil; <10% of TOC in the calcareous soil). Both humic acids caused significant Zn and Pb immobilisation (increased proportion of the residual fraction, extractable only with aqua regia) in the acid soil, while Cu and Fe were slightly mobilised (increased concentrations extractable with 0.1M CaCl(2) and/or 0.5M NaOH). In the calcareous soil there were lesser effects, and at the end of the experiment only the fraction mainly related to carbonates (EDTA-extractable) was significantly increased for Zn and decreased for Fe in the humic acids treated samples.

However, HA-metal interactions provoked the flocculation of these substances, as suggested by the association of the humic acids with the sand fraction of the soil. These results indicate that humic acid-rich materials can be useful amendments for soil remediation involving stabilisation, although a concomitant slight mobilisation of Zn, Pb and Cu can be provoked in acid soils.
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Food for thought perhaps.

CC
 
Ras Mason

Ras Mason

Active member
Veteran
ha ha, comme ci comme ca literally means like this, like that?
Sorry i am french peaking canadian.

Yeah, i have seen some fulvic acid products desrcibed on the bottle as coming from lignite, and leonardite, hence my bold post.
Peace
 
Y

Yankee Grower

mr-natural78 said:
According to the the link you posted the application of raw leonardite is less effective than the liquid application.
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That's bullshit. One of the problems here is the liquids are typically denatured extracts. Another problem is how the whole leonardite is processed :). I know people that have tested 'properly' processed whole leonardite against humic extracts and the whole product outperformed...except come to find out they did not test any BioAg products and the humic products they were using were the typical denatured crap...ooops. IMO BioAg's humic/fulvic extract products are the gold standard.
 
Y

Yankee Grower

Clackamas Coot said:
Food for thought perhaps.
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Sorry man but it's late. It looks like that study is more about contaminated soil prior to addition of humic substances and no real reference to any metal 'contamination' of the humic material itself. Will look at that again tomorrow.
 
Clackamas Coot

Clackamas Coot

Active member
Veteran
Yankee Grower said:
IMO BioAg's humic/fulvic extract products are the gold standard.
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BioAg's line of humic/fulvic acid products are not derived from Leonardite/lignite but rather fossilized peat from broad-leaved freshwater plants. Leonardite is salt water reed/sedge based according to their web page.

I've used their HumisolveUSA product specifically for a couple of years and have been very pleased with it.

CC
 
Y

Yankee Grower

Clackamas Coot said:
BioAg's line of humic/fulvic acid products are not derived from Leonardite/lignite but rather fossilized peat from broad-leaved freshwater plants. Leonardite is salt water reed/sedge based according to their web page.
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You're absolutely right and good clarification. From what I understand the deposits in the Southwest are freshwater in nature and the deposits in and around North Dakota are salt water in origin. Supposedly the Southwest deposits are naturally higher in fulvic acid.
 
Kush Farmer

Kush Farmer

Member
mr-natural78 said:
I saw this at a local garden center. Does anyone use it? Can anyone give some pros and cons of it's use or application advice? Thanks
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Most everyone is correct in the fact it adds beneficial humic\fulvic acids. Both do a multitude of good things but they mostly help in nutrient uptake by expanding cell walls. There are a few good products to use on the market. I personally use General Hydroponic's Diamond Nectar.
 
Y

Yankee Grower

Clackamas Coot said:
Yankee

Do you have any working knowledge/experience applying langbenite to a soil?

Thanks.

CC
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That I don't. The looks pretty wild though having phosphorescent and piezioelecrtic characteristics.

Next time I talk to my guys I'll see what they know as I'm sure both have either direct experience or knowledge of the material.
 
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