A Novel Calcium Borohumate Fertilizer for Enhancing Crop Productivity and Soil Fertility: A Review

Abstract

The Calcium–Boron–Humate complex is an advanced plant nutrition formulation designed to improve nutrient use efficiency and enhance crop performance by integrating calcium and boron with humic substances. Although calcium- and boron-based fertilizers are commercially available, their availability in soil can sometimes be limited by factors such as leaching, adsorption onto clay minerals and oxides, and interactions with soil organic matter. Incorporating these nutrients with humic acid may help improve their retention and gradual release in the soil. Calcium plays a crucial role in strengthening plant cell walls, promoting root development, regulating membrane permeability, and improving fruit quality and shelf life. Boron is essential for cell division, pollen viability, flowering, seed and fruit development, and the effective translocation of sugars from source to sink tissues. Together, these nutrients support both vegetative and reproductive growth, ultimately contributing to higher crop productivity. Considering the importance of calcium and boron and the challenges associated with their efficient utilization, a novel Calcium–Boron–Humate complex fertilizer was laboratory-prepared in the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry at The Gandhigram Rural Institute. This formulation is intended to enhance nutrient availability across a wide soil pH range by forming stable associations with humic substances, thereby reducing nutrient losses and improving plant uptake. Additionally, humic acid contributes to improved soil structure, increased cation exchange capacity, enhanced microbial activity, and better root growth. These improvements support greater availability and absorption of calcium and boron, leading to improved soil fertility and crop performance. This review aims to present the preparation method of the Calcium–Boron–Humate complex fertilizer and evaluate its effects on crop productivity and soil health, with the broader goal of supporting sustainable agricultural production.