The brown coal fields of the Gippsland basin in South Eastern Victoria are the only known source of humates in Australia, producing what is possibly the richest of all humates mined in the world today!

These brown coals or lignites were formed when Australia was part of a great land mass called “Gondwanaland” some 20-50 million years ago when dinosaurs roamed the earth. In geological time this period was between the Late Eocene and Middle Miocene ages when, in waterlogged environments, plant and tree debris accumulated. As the layer of debris increased in thickness, the floors of these vast swamps subsided slowly and the plant material was decomposed by the action of micro-organisms.

To varying degrees, and depending upon the climatic conditions plant constituents, including proteins, starches and cellulose (100% organic) were decomposed under aerobic conditions (in the presence of oxygen) by a process called “Humification”. This process results in the formation of thick layers of rich peat and humic materials. This is why some people call the brown coals of Victoria the “50 million year old compost.” As this material is covered with sediment, the combined effects of time, temperature and pressure convert the peat firstly to brown coal and then to black coals. In the transition from brown coal to black coals humate content decreases, oxygen content decreases and carbon content increases. Generally speaking, the older the coal the lower the humate content, black coals have none, and brown coals in Victoria are rich in humate being relatively young coals. These humate rich coals are only found in the South Eastern part of Australia in the Gippsland Basin.

Within the Gippsland Basin of Victoria where these brown coals are found, there also occurs a unique geological material which has undergone natural, in situ, weathering and oxidation. We call this material “Organic Humate”.

What is the richest source of Humate in the world?

Australian Organic Humate is very similar to Leonardite (USA) although being younger and more highly oxidised it is richer in humate.

The American Leonardite has often been claimed to be the benchmark standard for humic acids, that was until these unique oxidised coals in Australia were discovered. This Australian Organic Humate, which could well be called “Australian Leonardite”, is the raw material for Omnia Specialities Australia’s humate agricultural products.

Organic Humate, being a natural product, is variable in composition. Some deposits are so rich they contain 98% soluble humate.

Soluble humate contents can vary from 10% to 98% (on a dry ash free basis), obviously with low humate material higher application rates (up to 10 metric tonnes per hectare) are necessary, however with the premium material, agricultural benefits are achieved at very low application rates.

Determining the soluble humate and fulvate content of materials is relatively straight forward by extraction at high pH. The determination of humic acids is not so simple and the methods used can significantly influence the result obtained. Therefore it is difficult to compare claims from different companies (particularly in the USA, China and Russia) regarding the humic acid content of their products. All of Omnia Specialities Australia’s humate products are analysed according the International Standard ISO 5073 and the California Food & Drug Administration (CDFA) method determine humic acid content.

What are Humic Acids?

K-humate® is a highly concentrated source of humic
acids which is sourced and produced in Australia. The product’s high quality and proven performance is now well recognised all over the world. Humic acids are naturally derived from the breakdown of plant and microbial matter. Humic acids are the foundation of all fertile soils. Over the years, these humic acids accumulate in the soil to provide the soil with greater nutrient holding ability, water holding capacity, readily available carbon food source for beneficial soil micro-organisms and better soil structures. This is Nature’s way of minimising nutrient losses in order to maintain long-term soil fertility and to ensure sustainable plant growth.

Humic acids present in the soil hold a wide range of
micro-nutrients and macro-nutrients around plant roots to provide all the essential nutrients for quick root uptake and optimum plant growth. Humic acids also improve the wetting ability and water holding ability of the soil. K-humate® provides a helping hand to farmers and growers to achieve greater crop production through a more effective use of applied fertilizers and maintaining long-term soil fertility.