Influence of biohumates on agrochemical and biological properties of soils and crop yields (Review)

Abstract

Modern agriculture is caught in a contradiction between the need to increase food production and the demands of environmental safety. The intensive use of mineral fertilizers and chemical plant protection products, while ensuring short-term yield increases, leads to soil degradation: a decline in humus content, soil compaction, suppression of beneficial microbiota, and pollution. In this context, the development and implementation of technologies that combine productivity with the restoration of soil fertility has become a pressing challenge. Biohumates and humic preparations are seen as effective biologically active substances capable of addressing this issue. This article substantiates the use of biohumates as an environmentally safe, resource-saving alternative that is no less effective than traditional agrochemical products. The study highlights the differences among biohumates, whose classification is based on the source of raw materials, production methods, formulation, chemical composition, additional components, and intended use. Drawing on an analysis of current domestic and international research, the article demonstrates the positive effects of biohumate application on the physicochemical and biological properties of soil, as well as on the quality and yield of agricultural crops. It is shown that applying biohumates improves soil structure and the water-air regime, mobilizes unavailable forms of nutrients, and increases the abundance, diversity, and activity of beneficial microbiota and soil enzymes. Examples are provided of the positive effects of using biohumates in various types of crop production, including horticulture, seed production, and vegetable growing. The article concludes that biohumates hold great promise for use in agriculture, as they help restore and enhance soil fertility, increase plant stress resistance, and ensure stable, ecologically clean yields.