Bringing Humus Technology to Idaho

• Soil structure improvements – poor drainage, hard pans, erosion, leaching and dust storms are far more likely in low humus soils as the life that creates a crumbly, friable soil is missing and the glue that holds the soil together is also lacking.
• Promotes soil crumb structure – this magical soil structure is not something you can buy in a bag. Bacteria release a sticky exudate that creates mini aggregates in the soil. Then, fungi use their hyphae to wrap these particles into larger aggregates to create a highly desirable crumb structure that allows easy access of oxygen and water. Plant roots, earthworms and beneficial nematodes can move easily through this soil and everything works as it should!
• Water retention – humus holds moisture in the soil and is a far more efficient means of delivering water directly to the roots. Healthy plants with less water in the sap will not only be higher quality (higher sugar in beets: higher solids in potatoes; higher feed value in corn and hay), but also require much less water.
• Solubilizing of mineral fertilizers – the better the humus levels the faster the response to mineral fertilizers. The release of these materials is governed by biology.
• pH buffering – the higher your humus levels the less the importance of maintaining a perfect soil pH of 6.4
• Mineral Retention – humus has negatively and positively charged sites so it can store and stabilize all nutrients preventing them from being tied up or leaching. If you can build your humus levels it will dramatically improve fertilizer efficiency.
• Soil Detoxification – humus acts like a carbon filter to neutralize chemical residues and heavy metals in the soil.
• Root zone chelation – humus contains both humic and fulvic acids which are nature’s most powerful chelating agents.
• Plant growth promotion – the organisms that live in humus produce growth hormones, B group vitamins (now known to promote plant growth) and other growth promoters.
• Less chemical requirements – high humus soils usually feature the full suite of protective organisms which reduces the need for toxic chemicals.