Humic Acid Sodium Salt (Sodium Humate)
1. What exactly is it?
Sodium humate is simply humic acid that has been turned into its sodium salt. Imagine the big, complicated humic acid molecules taken from very old brown coal (leonardite) or peat. When you react them with ordinary caustic soda (NaOH), the acid groups become –COONa and phenolic –ONa. The result is a dark product that dissolves completely in water – something the original humic acid never does on its own.
Common names people use every day:
2. How Is It Made?
Sodium humate is produced primarily from leonardite, a soft brown coal rich in humic substances (60–85% humic acid). The process involves:
- Mining: Leonardite is sourced from open-pit mines, mainly in China’s Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Yunnan, or Jiangxi provinces.
- Extraction: The raw material is mixed with 5–15% NaOH solution at 80–120 °C under controlled pressure to solubilize humic acids.
- Purification: Insoluble residues (silica, clay) are filtered out.
- Drying: The liquid is concentrated and spray-dried into powder or roller-dried into shiny flakes.
- Optional Refining: High-purity grades undergo membrane filtration or alcohol precipitation to remove impurities.
Smaller producers in Russia, Ukraine, India, and the USA follow similar methods but contribute less to global supply.
3. How Sodium Humate looks and typical numbers you will see on bags
| What you see / test | Normal cheap grade | Good agricultural grade | Top-grade shiny flakes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colour | Brown-black | Dark brown-black | Almost black, shiny |
| Form | Powder or granules | Powder or small flakes | Big shiny flakes |
| Humic acid (dry basis) | 50–60 % | 65–75 % | 80–95 % |
| Solubility in water | 85–90 % | 95–98 % | 99–100 % |
| pH of 1 % solution | 8–10 | 9–11 | 9.5–11 |
| Moisture | max 15 % | max 12 % | max 10 % |
| Smell | Almost none | Earthy smell | Very mild |
| Bag size you usually buy | 25 kg | 25 kg | 20–25 kg |
4. Where does it come from in real life?
More than 85 % of the world’s sodium humate is made in China because that country has huge deposits of leonardite.
Other countries that produce a little:
- Russia (Siberia)
- Ukraine
- Turkey
- India (Gujarat area)
- USA (North Dakota, New Mexico – small volumes, expensive)
5. What farmers and factories actually use Sodium Humate for
A. In farming – the biggest market
- Soil application: 20–100 kg per hectare mixed with NPK or spread alone
- Drip irrigation / fertigation: 2–10 kg/ha split in several applications
- Foliar spray: 100–300 grams in 200–400 litres water per hectare (repeat 2–4 times)
- Seed treatment: 0.2–0.5 % solution (soak or coat seeds)
- Works very well on rice, corn, sugarcane, vegetables, fruit trees, coffee, rubber, dragon fruit, durian, etc.
B. Animal feed
- Pigs & chickens: 1–5 kg per ton of complete feed
- Cows: 20–50 grams per cow per day
- Shrimp & fish ponds: 2–10 kg per 1 000 m³ water every 7–15 days
C. Oil drilling
- 1–3 % in drilling mud to make it thinner and stop the hole collapsing
D. Other uses people are doing right now
- Mix with cement to make it flow better
- Clean pond water in shrimp farms
- Battery factories use the super-pure grade
- Remove heavy metals from factory wastewater
6. Simple tips before you pay
- Always ask for the latest Certificate of Analysis (COA) – 1-page paper with exact numbers
- Ask for a 200–500 g free sample (most factories send by DHL for free)
- Check that heavy metals are low if you use Sodium Humate on food crops or animal feed
- Store in a dry place – it can absorb water from air and become sticky
7. Where to Buy Sodium Humate
Global Supply Overview China produces over 85% of the world’s sodium humate, leveraging vast leonardite reserves. Other producers include Russia, Ukraine, India, Turkey, and the USA (limited volumes). Most trade occurs through bulk exports (1–100 metric tons) or retail platforms for smaller quantities.
8. Practical Tips for Buyers
- Quality Checks: Always request a Certificate of Analysis (COA) showing humic acid content (≥65% for agriculture), solubility (≥95%), pH (9–11), and heavy metals (<5 ppm total for feed/food crops).
- Samples: Most Chinese suppliers send 200–500 g free samples via DHL or EMS.
- Certifications: Look for OMRI (organic), ISO 9001, or REACH pre-registration (EU imports).
- Storage: Keep in a dry, shaded area to prevent moisture absorption.
- Shelf life: Exceeds 5 years if stored properly.
- Shipping: Bulk orders (1–20 MT) ship from Tianjin or Qingdao ports in 7–30 days.
7. Packaging Options
- Standard: 25 kg kraft paper bags with inner polyethylene liner.
- Bulk: 500–1,000 kg big bags for industrial buyers.
8. Conclusion
Sodium humate stands out as one of the most affordable, effective, and environmentally safe biostimulants available in 2025. Its ability to improve soil health, boost crop yields, enhance animal nutrition, and serve industrial needs makes it a go-to product for farmers, feed mills, and factories worldwide. With global production centered in China and a robust supply chain, sodium humate is easily accessible, whether you need a single 25 kg bag for a small farm or 100 tons for a large agribusiness. Prices remain stable, and quality is reliable when sourced from reputable suppliers. For anyone looking to improve agricultural productivity or explore industrial applications, sodium humate offers proven results backed by decades of use and a growing body of research. Start with a small sample, verify the COA, and you’ll quickly see why this simple black powder is a game-changer in modern farming and beyond.
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