Application of Liquid Humic to Wheat and Barley

Agricultural humic acid products have the potential to increase crop yields by helping plants take up nutrients more easily through the promotion of soil microbial activity. Humic acids can also stabilize soil structure in compacted soils, increasing water holding capacity while preventing erosion. There are numerous humic products available in Alberta that can be applied as either a granular or liquid soil amendment. Liquid humic is usually applied at seeding or as a foliar spray at the two to four leaf stage. This research trial investigates whether humic acid boosts cereal crop yields and grain quality in a dry growing season in Northern Alberta’s Peace Region.

This small plot trial studies the effect of liquid humic application at seeding on the performance of wheat and barley in heavy clay soils. The humic product sourced from Twin Rivers Farms was applied in furrow at a rate of 1 gal/ac. The crop varieties used in the trial were AAC Wheatland CWRS wheat and CDC Copeland barley.