Impact of Humic Substances on Carbon Sequestration and Soil Resilience

Abstract

Intensified cultivation linked with over application of chemical fertilizers and increasing human activities have been linked to enhanced CO2 emissions, decreasing soil fertility, increasing soil degradation and declining productivity of crops. However, humic substances comprising humic acid, fulvic acid, and humin have shown beneficial effects in improving soil fertility, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing soil resilience. Being highly decomposed organic matter, these substances play a vital role in boosting soil health and promoting carbon sequestration. Elevated levels of humic substances are associated with a notable increase in soil organic carbon content. Additionally, they contribute to a reduction in the emission of major greenhouse gases. Human-induced disturbances, including land cultivation and poor land management practices both historically and currently, continue to degrade soil. Therefore, developing soils with resilient characteristics is essential to withstand such degradation. Humus contributes to the improvement of soil’s biological, physical, and chemical properties, ultimately strengthening its resilience capacity.