Control Pests and Improve Soil Health with PROUD 4 + ZAP

Knock Out Soil Pests with the Powerful One-Two Punch of PROUD 4 + ZAP 

Soil pathogen problems? Soil health issues? Nematode populations out of whack? Tired of applying synthetic fungicides and fumigants? Enter Huma’s carbon-based products: PROUD 4 and ZAP. 

What is the carrier? First off, let’s discuss the key to the success of these products. The secret sauce, the ingredient that makes these products work and work so extremely well, is Huma’s Micro Carbon Technology (MCT). It’s both a source and a process. MCT is derived from a unique, highly oxidized lignite/leonardite carbon source from our above-ground humate mine in Idaho. We utilize a proprietary extraction process – chemically and biologically – to create it, while blending in a special mix of nutrients and biostimulants. 

MCT functions like a humic acid and a fulvic acid, only much better. It’s highly beneficial to the soil, activating soil microbes and making crop nutrients more bioavailable to crops. When applied as a foliar spray, it delivers crop inputs to the plant sap within one hour of application.

MCT is the most efficient way to deliver crop inputs to the soil, roots and leaves. This carrier is not only a game changer for nutrition and biostimulants, but for crop protection, too. MCT enhances the control of pests and the rapid recovery of the soil. It’s a key ingredient in both the PROUD 4 and the ZAP.

What is PROUD 4? It’s actually four products in one: nematicide, fungicide, insecticide and miticide. PROUD 4 is a liquid, contact killer that works equally effectively both above and below ground, stopping a broad-spectrum of pests. The active ingredient (essential oils) desiccates cell membranes. The Micro Carbon Technology allows the essential oils and other ingredients to work very quickly, efficiently, and become locally systemic in the plant. Works in both foliar and soil conditions and has shown great kill in all situations without hurting the plant nor the beneficial insects. It’s OMRI-listed, eco-friendly and can be applied anytime during the season, even in season.

What is ZAP?  It’s our non-organic soil amendment. ZAP is a potent food source for beneficial bacteria and fungi and improves the roots and soil’s ability to outcompete pathogens and plant-parasitic nematodes. As beneficials are stimulated and populations increase and biodiversity improves, other soil health benefits are improved – water holding capacity and penetration, salt buffering, harsh chemicals and heavy metal remediation, nutrient availability improves, organic residues convert to humus, recycling of nutrients, etc. The benefits of ZAP include stimulating root growth and creating a balanced and diverse microbial community, even if there wasn’t a microbial community to begin with.  

If you are strictly organic and can’t use ZAP, please use “OM SOIL ACTIVATOR” – which focuses mainly on stimulating the beneficial bacteria.

Why should you use these two products in tandem? Think of it as a soil health reset. PROUD 4 is our heavy hitter, especially with high disease and nematode thresholds. It immediately knocks out pathogens and nematodes on contact. ZAP then restores microbial communities by quickly growing populations of beneficials, where they can outcompete pests.

In both row crop and specialty crop situations… you can’t mess around with “just getting by”. You need all the firepower you can get. Soil health problems can occur at any stage and flare up at any time. Microbial diversity is a big hidden hunger to keep yields from skyrocketing. That’s why PROUD 4 + ZAP make the perfect combo.

How much? Foliar applications of PROUD 4 are 0.5% to 2% of total spray solution. So if you are spraying 10 gallons/ac of solution, the application rate would be 12.8oz/ac. Soil application rates are around 2-4qts/ac for both PROUD 4 and ZAP – or 1.5 to 3 oz per 1000ft^2. If you are on a drip system with 50% planted acreage, use 2 qts/ac applied directly to the roots. We’ve applied at 2-3x application rates, so I’m not concerned with the approach, but I’d rather apply multiple times vs. applying a heavier dose just once. Recommended practice with irrigation is to apply these products so they get the most coverage. Apply during the last quarter of the irrigation cycle and then a little bit more to flush it all out. Can we get by with applying less or what if I have a severe problem and want to apply more? Great question, we may be able to adjust the rates, but let’s have an in-depth conversation with myself or your sales rep before we get to that point. 

When do I need to apply? As a general rule, every 10 degrees C increase in soil temperature, microbiological activity doubles. Obviously, the warmer the soil, the higher the chances of microbial activity. I typically recommend to growers that we want the least amount of transplant shock or germination loss. So, I think we need the soil in the best possible scenario as it comes into life on the farm. I recommend PROUD 4 as a preplant application and ZAP as an in-furrow or in the transplant water or first irrigation cycle. Both of these products can blend typically well with other fertilizers and ag products. 

So, after your great start, what about mid-season? And how often do you need to apply? 

Depending on the crop and severity of pest infestations, our tried-and-true program rotates between the two products every 14-15 days. You may keep on whatever system was started with and keep it going until harvest. As a good rule of thumb, if you are fertilizing, you should be using either PROUD 4 or ZAP. If you aren’t irrigating or aren’t fertilizing due to temperature or other factors, pull out these soil amendment products. If you want stuff to grow, keep these going. The reason we apply something every 14 days is that diseases and especially nematodes have monthly cycles. 

Is it ever feasible to just use ZAP? In 75% of the cases, ZAP will be just fine. However, in instances when disease pressure is severe and/or plant-parasitic nematode activity is out of control, PROUD 4 is just too good of a curative rescue, whereas ZAP’s preventative measures are mostly just that, preventative. ZAP doesn’t do the killing that may need to take place. It focuses mostly on competitive exclusion – increasing biodiversity and using the beneficial microbes to do the fighting.

See attached pictures of ZAP aiding in preventing pathogens as well as promoting beneficials to compete vs. pathogens. The same thing happens with plant-parasitic nematodes. In the picture, the ZAP holds back and prevents the diseases from spreading, all while promoting and stimulating a beneficial microbe to fight and compete vs the pathogen. Pretty cool!

Agronomically speaking, I like recommending something a little more intense than just switching between PROUD 4 and ZAP. And cheaper too! Switching back and forth gets a little boring and repetitive for me. Since ZAP is a little more than half the cost of PROUD 4… Here is what I would do personally on my farm. I would apply ZAP every 2 weeks. Done. Only when diseases or nematodes get out of control, or when you know their populations would typically get high… apply the PROUD 4. Then the next applications resume on the ZAP. This way we can really build upon our previous applications and keep those nutrients available, water use efficiency at a maximum, and all those beneficial microbes stimulated and the diseases at bay and dwindling. Over months and years of doing this, I’m sure the amount of PROUD 4 needed will be diminished. But hey, you do you. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The rotation of PROUD 4 and ZAP rotating every 14-15 days just plain works! 

Please don’t apply other fumigants or soil fungicides while using these products; PROUD 4 and ZAP cover all your bases. Take out your soil fungicide or take out your seed treatment. ZAP can also replace your inoculants. If you are insistent on using them, please add the ZAP; it will only make them stronger and more effective! 

What about row crops? They have a completely different regime. We may only get one soil application. Maybe two if we are lucky. For the most part, we do a fantastic job with just one application of ZAP in furrow, but for some severe nematode populations, we’ll do a preplant application of PROUD 4 and then ZAP in furrow. If we can side-dress with either product, that would be beneficial. However, keep in mind that we need to get INTO the soil profile since both work in the root zone with microbes. Broadcast applications just before a good rain event can also work. If we only have one chance of application, and pressures are high, yes, we can apply both together. Remember that ZAP is not alive. No living microbes. As the PROUD 4 dissipates off, the ZAP that is present will then start to feed the beneficials and get going! Not the best agronomic solution, but it does help.

The wonderful thing about using these products is that they work. And they work at a very affordable price. Not only that, but they do not bring along all the other issues that typical fumigation or pesticides incur. When used as directed, these are safe, eco-friendly, soil healing products that can be applied from before planting until the day of harvest with no re-entry intervals. Little or no PPEs needed and no damage to the crops or people or the environment! When you join thousands of others using PROUD 4 and ZAP, you will join a community that focuses on soil longevity, fertility, and soil regeneration!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.