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Learn About Leonardite
The presence of humic acids in coals has been known for some time.
Low-grade coals, called lignite, contain more acids than high-grade coals.
In North Dakota, a particular formation of this highly oxidized lignite
was called leonardite after the geologist, Dr. Leonard, who discovered it.
This material was more highly oxidized than other lignites and consists of
as much as 85% humic acids.
Leonardite as a source of humic acids for crop production was
discovered in the 1960's. Researchers at the US Bureaus of Mines began to
experiment with applications of crushed leonardite to agricultural soils.
They found that applications of the material. at rates of 100 to 2,000 per
acre, increased yields of potatoes, sugar beets and other crops.
Various universities and extension services began to experiment with
the use of leonardite based soil amendments and fertilizers. In
particular, the South Carolina Experiment Station demonstrated spectacular
yield improvements from formations in New Mexico. It was apparent that
this source was more biologically and chemically active than the North
Dakota source. Since those early experiments in the 1960's, university
researchers throughout the world have continued to study humic acids
derived from leonardite.
Why is Leonardite an Ideal Humic Acids Source?
Leonardite has the highest humic acids content of any natural source.
Although humic acids can be extracted from peat, composts or soils; none
of these sources are so concentrated and abundant as leonardite. It is
plentiful and inexpensive compared to other possible humic acid sources.
The positive response of plants and soils to humic acids derived from
leonardite have been demonstrated by many researchers. There is abundant
evidence from field trials with humic acids from leonardite that prove the
value of leonardite as a humic acids source.
What is Leonardite?
Many thousands of years ago large bodies of water existed where huge
quantities or organic matter were deposited and began to slowly decompose.
Over the year, giant peat bogs were formed. Through geologic activity many
of these bogs were buried. After burial, the organic material began to
lose oxygen and be transformed in coal under heat and pressure. Those
deposits that were never buried deep enough to undergo the complete
transformation into coal, became leonardite. Today these leonardite ores
exist as stratified layers of brown to black coal-like material underneath
an overburden of inorganic soil or rock.
Read more about Humic Acids
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