Proof of His Vision: The 1984 Humic Acid Study

Where It All Began

Being part of Huma for many years and holding many different roles within the company, my thoughts often return to one figure: Dr. Jordan G. Smith… my grandfather. 

I never had the chance to know him. He passed away when I was only a few years old, and sadly, I don’t have any living memories of him. But over the years, I’ve come to know him through stories, grainy VHS tapes, and conversing with my grandmother (who still to this day wears her wedding ring from him). I’ve also come to know him through the company he helped found. The love that he had for agriculture and for doing what’s right has luckily been passed down to me. 

Following In His Footsteps

I grew up spending my summers around the company, mixing agrochemicals, helping in production, and learning chemistry firsthand. I thought I might pursue physics or astronomy, and even started down that road in college. 

But my father, Lyndon, gave me advice that changed my trajectory. He said, “Instead of looking out into space with a telescope, look into Mother Earth with a microscope.” And so I did. I moved up to Idaho and enrolled in a few agronomy courses, and I fell in love. I did an R&D internship at then Bio Huma Netics Inc., working on seed treatments, followed by a sales externship in the Mid-South. I loved it! After finishing my four years in Idaho and another two in Kansas studying agronomy, I never looked back. I’ve been with Huma, on and off, for 20 years now. 

The Paper That Said It All

Recently, something remarkable came full circle.

While attending the IHSS (International Humic Substance Society) meeting in Rimini, Italy, my dad struck up a conversation with Dr. Paul Bloom, one of the few people still active from the early days of IHSS. Lyndon had long believed that his father, Dr. Jordan Smith, had presented a paper at the 2nd IHSS meeting back in 1984 in Brighton, England, but he didn’t have any proof, just a memory. 

Well, Dr. Paul Bloom did some digging and, with the help of Dr. Mike Perdue, who maintains the IHSS historical records, they not only found a copy of the meeting program but also the abstract of the paper.

The Original Research

Title: Bush Bean Growth in Response to Applications of Humic and Fulvic Acids to Soil, to Solution Cultures, and as Foliar Sprays.

Authors: A. Chrominski, B.N. Smith, and J.G. Smith

Leonardite is an oxidized form of lignite coal. Humic Acid (HA) is the fraction that is soluble in dilute base, whereas Fulvic Acid (FA) is the acid-soluble fraction. Humic substances containing HA/FA have been shown to affect plant growth and influence mineral uptake from soil. They are known to have a chelation function, but the specific mode of action is unknown.  

Experimentation

Extracted HA/FA solutions (60, 600, 6000 mg/dm3) from Huma’s Idaho mine were applied to bush bean transplants (Phaseolus Vulgaris) twice at 12 and 14 days after germination to the soil, to the hydroponic medium, and as a foliar application to plants grown in vermiculite.  A Hoagland #2 nutrient solution was also applied to the plants grown in the hydroponic medium. 

Plant height and number of flowers and pods were measured during the next four weeks. At the end of the experiment, the dry weight of the plants was determined. Standard deviation and analysis of variance were also conducted. 

Results and Discussion

Bush bean height increased 250% over the control from the addition of 6000 mg/dm-3 HA to the soil-grown plants. Lower HA concentrations (60 and 600 mg/dm3) increased by 120% over the control. FA added to the soil only stimulated plant growth at 600 mg/dm-3. 

Shoot dry weight increased with both HA and FA applied to the soil. At higher concentrations, foliar sprays of HA or FA slightly inhibited growth. 

In the soil treatments, reproductive components (flowers plus pods) were increased over the control with HA or FA. HA foliar spray also increased stimulation at 60 mg/dm-3.

All concentrations of HA or FA applied in the hydroponic solution did not give significant results, and the reproductive results were variable. 

When applied as a soil amendment, HA tended to have a more positive response than FA applications.  HA may not be viable for foliar sprays or applied to hydroponic solutions, as the best positive responses came from being soil-applied. There may have been a microbial as well as a physical soil change from applications of HA or FA, which was not measured.  This merits the need for further research. 

Summary

“Humic Acids extracted from Leonardite were more effective than the Fulvic Acid extracts for promoting the growth of bush bean plants when added to the soil. Additions of Humic and Fulvic acids [applied] to hydroponic solutions or applications as foliar sprays had little effect. Height, weight, and reproductive structures (flowers and fruit at four weeks) were all increased by humic acid additions.”

Why This Matters Today

This paper validates something we long believed at Huma. Dr. Jordan Smith was far ahead of his time. At the time, the industry was still trying to understand how humic substances could be used in agriculture, whereas he was already running trials, collecting data, and drawing conclusions that many researchers are now confirming. 

His vision, to utilize humic and fulvic acids to improve plant health, soil structure, and higher yields, continues to guide Huma’s research and product development today. We’re proud to carry his legacy forward, committed to the same mission: to do right by the soil, the crop, and the grower.