Humic acid fertilizers: Mechanistic contributions and applications in sustainable agroecosystems

Humic acid fertilizers are microbial products of organic residues that are critical in supporting sustainable agroecosystems in terms of boosting agricultural soil fertility and crop production and reducing degradation of the environment. This review explains their complex functions in enhancing soil physicochemical and biological properties, increasing nutrient bioavailability, enhancing plant resistance to abiotic stresses, and reducing the use of synthetic fertilizer. It can be used as soil amendments, foliar sprays, seed priming, fertigation and rehabilitation of degraded soils and has already proven to be active in a variety of crops and agroecological situations. Nevertheless, with the obstacles that include compositional variability and economic constraints, the development of formulation and precision agriculture technologies will enhance their value, and humic acid fertilizers will be a staple of agricultural paradigms that would survive climate changes.