CARBOHUMIC
Questions & answers
CARBOHUMIC
What is CARBOHUMIC?
To put it simply, it is lignite in liquid form.
How is the product made and what is it composed of?
Our product is created in the process of alkaline extraction and comprises everything that is contained in lignite, such as humus compounds resulting from leonardites (humic acids, humins), organic carbon, active carbon, mineral components etc. and water. For more details see the bookmark for CARBOHUMIC.
If so, why shouldn’t we spread lignite instead of using it in liquid form?
While a field fertilized with solid lignite will yield an effect no sooner than after a full year (according to available literature), the liquid CARBOHUMIC releases components contained in lignite to the plants almost instantly. In the first years the effects of solid lignite used on fields can even be purely contrary to the indented ones as lignite will absorb everything that is applied. Only at a later phase – together with decomposition of lignite – the components contained therein will be consequently released.
What is the pH of your preparation?
Our preparation has a pH within 8-11, however considering the proportion at which it is diluted in water, we can assume that the preparation takes the pH of the water we use for diluting.
What advantages will I get using the preparation?
Using the preparation has a simultaneous effect on a variety of horticultural, economic or environmental factors. For more details see the bookmark for CARBOHUMIC.
Who do you particularly address the product to?
We do not impose any limitations. We propose CARBOHUMIC to anyone who cares about good condition of their soil, no matter whether it is a multi-acre farmer or a amateur gardener. What is more, the product does not have any restrictions for particular plants, therefore it can used successfully for cultivation of all species of plants.
How should it be applied?
The application range is truly broad. The preparation may be supplied through practically all available irrigation systems starting from a watering can or hose to drip irrigation lines, herbicide boom sprayers, sprinklers etc. Additionally, to meet the expectations of our customers, we have segregated CARBOHUMIC into 4 categories (see more below) which allow better matching of the product to its application, for example to make a producer who uses a professional irrigation systems with precise filters feel relieved that our product is not going to clog the filters up.
Why does your offer include 4 versions of CARBOHUMIC? How do they differ from one another?
The versions differ in the degree of sifting and, what is related, a varied content of organic substance (dry mass) available in the product. We have assumed that an allotment gardener who wants to take care of his soil and crops will have slightly different needs than a professional producer of e.g. blueberry who uses fertigation or a farmer who uses a sprayer. Following that assumption we have divided our preparation into 4 categories which are slightly better adjusted to the needs of an end user with respect of the method the preparation is applied. On the other hand, we have taken care of that each version of our product maintains its unique properties no matter which version is chosen by the customer. Precise divisions as well as our suggestions for typical applications of individual categories of CARBOHUMIC are to be found under the product bookmark.
Will the preparation clog my fertigation system or sprayers?
As above, our individual customers are offered various degrees of filtering of our preparation. If the user wishes to apply CARBOHUMIC through capillaries, herbicide boom sprayers, sprayers etc. we can filter the product to 165 mesh. Nevertheless, it is worth remembering that the more organic matter we leave in the preparation the more of it will be delivered to the soil.
Why should I use CARBOHUMIC instead of dung, liquid manure or compost?
Let us start with the observation that in the present times a noticeable discord has evolved between agricultural production and animal husbandry. A great number of farmers stopped using any form of supplying the soil with organic matter (such as dung, for example) which has resulted in a dramatic drop in the content of humus in Polish soils. We want to propose an easily available alternative. Lignite is at least a few times richer in organic carbon and organic matter which constitutes valuable nutrient for microorganisms in the humus, than the manure dung mentioned before (1 litre of CARBOHUMIC replaces approx. 10 tons of dung) and can be its perfect substitute – especially for restoring Polish soils so degraded by multiannual cultivation. Furthermore, since dung or manure contain a substantial volume of nitrogen, we suggest using our preparation together with those carriers in order to balance the ration of carbon and nitrogen as well as to prevent leaching of nitrates into the soil or their volatilization into the air (and thus to reduce the unpleasant smell). The organic carbon contained in the preparation is highly reactive and as such it has chelating properties (binding and stabilizing) for other elements into easily absorbed chemical compounds.
What differs your preparation from other products such as humic acids?
First of all, it is difficult to talk about other preparations in the comparative context as long as one does not know thoroughly what those other preparations are. What we can say, however, is that compared to the vast majority of products available on the market CARBOHUMIC is an extract from pure lignite (not from compost, earthworm culture or sewage treatment waste) and it does not contain any synthetic substances. It is made from pure raw material (free of dust or sand), which guarantees high quality of the product. Furthermore, it has very dense consistency obtained in a natural way, which directly influences its productivity (as little as 1 g Corg contained in the preparation is enough to supply an area of as much as 4000 m2). It can also be said that the product is as good as the raw material it is made from. CARBOHUMIC is made from top quality brown coal (considering its applicability for plant cultivation) available in Poland and one of the best in Europe.
In what way does the preparation influence the humification processes (creation of humus)?
To make it as brief as possible, it is assumed that the following key elements are important in order to create humus in soil: high content of organic matter / organic substance / humic substances, maintaining the carbon (C) to nitrogen (N) ratio at least at 10:1, living organisms and time. With our formula we can affect the first listed components, the rest will follow naturally. Lignite is the best carrier of organic matter and organic carbon (Corg) – an element indispensable in creation of humus, available in nature, even a few times better than the commonly used dung. In approximation, the chemical composition of humus looks as follows: 60% C, 30% O2, 6% N, 1.2% P, 0.9% S and numerous microelements. Proportional ratio of the main macroelements in humus C:N:P:S is 10 : 1 : 0.2 : 0.15, respectively. Question: who and in what form enriches soil with carbon today…? If they do so, then in what amount…?
You mention that your preparation helps fighting drought. In what way?
In order to illustrate the problem we have to refer to physical properties of carbon particles such its porous texture and related sorption potential. Carbon contained in the preparation supports creation of colloidal structures of humus which cause that large inner surfaces of humus are able to retain water in the amount a few times bigger than their mass. Furthermore, upon application CARBOHUMIC creates a viscous layer in the soil which superbly catches and retains precipitation water in top section of the layer and keeps water evaporating from the soil in the lower section of the layer.
Can I use your preparation for organic farming?
Of course. The preparation has been certified by IUNG (Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation) in Puławy for use in organic farming under certification number NE/495/2019.
What is the environmental impact of your preparation?
Environmental issues are discussed in bookmark dedicated to CARBOHUMIC. At this place I can assure you that using the preparation does not entail any negative impact on the environment, in fact to the contrary. It is a natural organic product, therefore there is no risk of overfertilization of your crops.
Is there a risk of overfertilization?
There is no such risk. The preparation contains exclusively organic components so there is no risk of overfertilization. What can happen is merely that your soil will be supplied with more organic components, should you apply doses higher than suggested.
What proportions should be used?
We usually recommend to mix the preparation with water or working solution in proportions depending on soil condition or individual requirements of the plant for content of humus or nutrients. When you consider consistent annual balancing of humus lost in cultivation, you should use the preparation at least once a year in the proportion of minimum 1:100 (although at this point we should take into account the fact that certain plants deplete soil more than other ones). However, if your purpose is to restore major losses of humus resulting from multiannual exploitation of soil, you are recommended to use higher doses. More precise recommendations are plus our own suggestions on how CARBOHUMIC can be used are listed in the “application recommendations” bookmark. Should you wish to consult/clarify particular recommendations do not hesitate to contact us.
Is it better to apply a single highly condensed dose or a few less concentrated doses?
Research has shown that frequent and less concentrated doses are decidedly more effective in humification processes. This is mainly due to the following two factors:
a) Fulvic acids are distinctly better absorbed in lower concentrations.
b) Humic acids absorbed from higher concentration solutions are more easily leached compared to those absorbed from low concentration solutions.
Of course, we bear in mind the fact that for majority of farmers a number of field trips is important (in terms of costs), therefore we very often recommend to administer a larger dose in one or two annual applications. For more details you are invited to the “application recommendations” section for CARBOHUMIC.
When shouldn’t the preparation be used?
We should not apply the preparation on frozen soil or during heavy rain.
Does any preharvest interval apply to the product?
Since our product is entirely natural no preharvest intervals apply. It is 100 % safe, what’s more – we consume it during our presentations!
Can the product be combined with plant protection products, fertilizers etc.
We recommend to mix the preparation only with pure water or, if need be, with a working solution. It is not known how the product will react if mixed with certain chemicals, so caution is recommended.
In what volumes is the product sold?
Available capacities are presented in detail in the product bookmark for Carbohumic.
Does the product contain heavy metals?
People often raise doubts that brown coal and its preparations contain too much of heavy metals. This is both true and untrue at the same time. The key question is what kind of lignite it is. Actually, the deeper we go underground (we have the following stratification layers: peat -> lignite -> brown coal -> hard coal -> anthracite) the harder the material becomes and the higher concentration of heavy metals it has. That is why we source our raw material from the deposits of the so called soft brown coal (lignite) in the shallow coal seam, which meets all the restrictions related to plant cultivation.
Is this a bacterial preparation?
Although the concentrate does not contain any living organisms and thus it is not a bacterial preparation, it definitely encourages creation of such organisms. The preparation allows the soil ecosystem to regenerate in a short time in the course of a natural process – without chemicals and entirely harmless to biological life. Additionally, the product can be used with bacteria strains to decompose post-harvest waste or UAN.
