- 1. Ammonium Humate: The Organic Nitrogen Enhancer That Holds and Slow-Releases N
- 1.1. What Is Ammonium Humate?
- 1.2. Four Soil Jobs It Does
- 1.2.1. 1. Improves soil structure and water holding
- 1.2.2. 2. Holds and slow-releases nitrogen
- 1.2.3. 3. Frees locked phosphorus
- 1.2.4. 4. Chelates micronutrients
- 1.3. Technical Specifications
- 1.4. How It Compares to Other Humates
- 1.5. Application Logic
- 1.6. Frequently Asked Questions
- 1.7. Bottom Line
Ammonium Humate: The Organic Nitrogen Enhancer That Holds and Slow-Releases N
If nitro humic acid is “nitrogen attached by nitration,” ammonium humate is the simpler, salt-form cousin: humic acid combined with ammonium. It is an organic fertilizer that carries natural humic acid and nitrogen together, in a form that stays in the root zone and meters its nutrition out slowly.
This guide covers what ammonium humate is, the four soil jobs it does, realistic specifications, and how it fits alongside other humates.
What Is Ammonium Humate?
Ammonium humate is an important humic acid ammonium salt with holophytic (whole-plant) nutrition and high-effective organic matter. In plain terms, it is a kind of organic fertilizer combining natural humic acid with nitrogen.
It is partly soluble in water and comes in both granule and powder type, so it can go into dry blends or be dissolved for liquid programs (within its solubility limit).
Four Soil Jobs It Does
The real value is not the nitrogen number alone — it is what ammonium humate does to the rest of your fertility program.
1. Improves soil structure and water holding
It improves soil structure, which increases water holding capacity and soil cation exchange capacity (CEC), raising overall soil fertility. More CEC means the soil can hold onto cations (Ca, Mg, K, NH₄) instead of losing them to leaching.
2. Holds and slow-releases nitrogen
For nitrogen fertilizer, the ammonium is held and slow-released — the plant draws it down over time instead of getting one soluble spike that washes away.
3. Frees locked phosphorus
Phosphorus will be released from Al³⁺ and Fe³⁺ — the forms that lock P in acidic and redox soils. By breaking those bonds, ammonium humate makes existing phosphate available again.
4. Chelates micronutrients
It chelates micro elements and turns them into a plant-absorbable form. That is especially useful in high-pH soils where Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu otherwise precipitate.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Powder (JFHA-NHA-P) | Granule (JFHA-NHA-G) |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Black powder | Black granule |
| Water solubility | 50% | 50% |
| Nitrogen (N, dry basis) | 5.0% min | 3.0% min |
| Humic Acid (dry basis) | 40% min | 40% min |
| Moisture | 25.0% max | 25.0% max |
| Particle size | 80–100 mesh (fineness) | 2–4 mm |
| pH | 8–9 | 8–9 |
Production capacity is 7500 MT/month, so supply is stable for recurring programs.
How It Compares to Other Humates
- vs Nitro Humic Acid: nitro humic acid carries nitro-group nitrogen (15%→20% use efficiency lift) and is soil-applied; ammonium humate is the ammonium salt, partly water-soluble, with strong phosphorus-releasing and chelating action.
- vs Potassium Humate: potassium humate is potassium-loaded and fully soluble; ammonium humate is nitrogen-loaded and partly soluble.
- vs Sodium Humate (feed): feed-grade sodium humate is for animals, not fields.
Application Logic
Because it is partly soluble and granule/powder, ammonium humate fits:
- Dry blends — mix the granule into a compound fertilizer.
- Liquid (within solubility) — dissolve the powder for fertigation up to its 50% solubility.
- Alkaline/calcareous soils — where its phosphorus-releasing and chelating effects pay off most.
Pair it with humic acid urea in field crops, or with amino acid fertilizers for fruit-quality programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ammonium humate water-soluble?
Partly — about 50% solubility for both powder and granule. It is not a fully soluble foliar product; use potassium fulvate for that.
Does it help alkaline soil?
Yes. Its phosphorus-releasing (from Al³⁺/Fe³⁺) and micronutrient-chelation effects are most valuable in high-pH, calcareous ground.
How much nitrogen does it supply?
5.0% N (powder) or 3.0% N (granule) on a dry basis, on top of 40% humic acid.
Bottom Line
Ammonium humate is the organic nitrogen enhancer that does more than feed: it holds N, frees P, chelates trace elements, and builds soil structure through CEC. For alkaline and depleted soils it is one of the most cost-effective humate choices.
See the Ammonium Humate product page for the full TDS.
