Geohumus is a novel soil additive, manufactured in Germany, with excellent water absorbing properties. It is a patented hybrid material combining a highly efficient water absorbing polymer (organic component) with the benefits of volcanic rock flour, clay minerals and silicates (mineral components). The result is an odourless, sponge-like granulate which retains its structural stability in the soil together with its high water absorption capacity. The organic component consists of an innovative version of a super absorbent, derived from natural gas, and is responsible for the storage of plant available water. The mineral components, apart from their fertilising effects, provide structural stability, hence avoiding the formation of gel layers in the soil. The core attribute of Geohumus™ is swelling and expanding of the particles during water uptake, with the following soil improving aspects:

• storage of plant available water
• stimulation of root growth and plant strengthening
• promotion of soil life
• long-term delivery of important plant nutrients

Geohumus™ – Benefits

Healthier plants, vigorous blossoms
Geohumus provides a steady water supply hence avoiding rapid desiccation and wilting of the plants. The improvement of soil structure results in the stimulation of soil life so that plant nutrients derived from soil organic matter and Geohumus minerals are made plant available. This provides plant strengthening and gives them a fresh and healthy appearance.

Water savings – less labour input
Geohumus absorbs and stores water which is normally lost by surface runoff and leakage. This stored water is subsequently taken up by the plants’ root hairs as required. This allows less frequent watering. On average, every third watering or irrigation can be saved.

Better rooting
Geohumus stimulates the growth of plant roots, encouraging them to penetrate the granulate particles. In and around these particles a rich setting of water, oxygen and nutrients prevails, which allows accelerated growth and extensive branching of the root system. In contrast to common super absorbents, the water retention force of Geohumus is low, so that the surrounding soil is not dried out, and the root system doesn’t have to extract the water from inside the granules. The microbial diversity is positively affected.

Fewer plant failures
Geohumus reduces the shock from transplanting, by stimulation of the root growth. This leads to fast adaptation of the plants to their new environment. Geohumus reduces the failures in the critical phase, shortly after transplanting of trees and shrubs in field applications.

Higher nutrient efficiency
Plant roots can also grow directly into the water storing Geohumus particles, dissolving the containing mineral nutrients. Due to the reduction of leakage water, the corresponding nutrient losses, i.e. washing-out of fertilizers, are reduced as well.

Environmental safety
The application of Geohumus according to good practice is absolutely safe for environment and health. This has been proven in various toxicological and ecotoxicological surveys. The soil fauna provides a physical grinding and reduction of Geohumus aggregates while the soil microflora, predominantly fungi, fulfil the biological degradation. After 3 to 5 years due to progressed degradation, Geohumus has almost lost its functionality and can be added to the soil again.

Geohumus™ – How to apply?

New plantings
Dimensions of the hole (length, width, depth in cm):
30 x 30 x 30 160 g Geohumus (= 0,4%; m/m)*
40 x 40 x 40 380 g Geohumus (= 0,4%; m/m)
50 x 50 x 50 750 g Geohumus (= 0,4%; m/m)
100 x 100 x 100 6,0 kg Geohumus (= 0,4%; m/m)
*Important! A plant hole with 30 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm is 27 litres in volume, which corresponds to an average mass of mineral soil of 40.5 kg. 0.4% of this compound fit 162 g Geohumus! Excavate a hole and store the soil temporarily. Put 2/3 back into the hole and add the recommended amount of Geohumus and mix it with the soil. Place the plant into this Geohumus-soil mix and fill up the hole with the rest of the soil. Water thoroughly!
Alternatively: Mix 6 kg Geohumus homogeneously with 1 m3 soil to create a Geohumus containing soil substrate. Fill up the uppermost 5 cm horizon with the excavated soil material without Geohumus. Water thoroughly!

Established trees, existing tree cultures, plantations
Geohumus can also be placed in the root area of existing trees and tree cultures. Thereto the material will be injected by compressor assisted devices into the root area down to 70-80 cm soil depth. We recommend the following machines: Vogt GeoInjektor, Vogt Baugeräte GmbH, Weidenberg or Revita, MTM-Spindler & Schmid GmbH, Heroldstatt. By turning of the device during the injection Geohumus will be disposed in the designated direction. Areas up to 50 cm away from the injector can be reached. Basically Geohumus should be placed in those regions where the water infiltration and the activity of the plant roots are topmost.
Plant height:
1 - 2 m => 1-2 kg Geohumus
2 – 5 m => 2-5 kg Geohumus
5 – 10 m => up to 10 kg Geohumus.

The above data are to be seen as recommendations. Site-specific factors like climate, soil and water quality can cause variations.