Humic substances (HS) are an essential component of soil organic matter and are
considered a promising basis for the development of environmentally safe bioproducts used in
sustainable agriculture. In the context of global soil degradation and the increasing demand for
enhanced productivity of agroecosystems, interest in natural compounds capable of improving soil
fertility and stimulating plant growth is steadily growing. This review summarizes current scientific
data on the origin, structure, physical and chemical properties, as well as biological activity of humic
substances, as well as their role in the functioning of soil ecosystems. It is shown that humic
substances are formed during the humification of organic residues and are characterized by a complex
molecular structure containing various functional groups that ensure their high chemical and biological
activity. Due to their ability to participate in complexation, ion exchange, and electron transfer
processes, humic substances regulate key soil processes, including nutrient cycling, carbon
sequestration, soil structure formation, and detoxification of pollutants. Particular attention is given to
the physiological effects of humic substances on plants. It is demonstrated that they exhibit hormonelike properties, stimulating root system development, activating metabolic processes, and increasing
plant resistance to abiotic stress. In addition, humic substances enhance the bioavailability of macroand micronutrients, improve soil water retention capacity, and promote the activity of soil microbiota.
The review also examines modern methods for obtaining humic acids from natural carbon-containing
materials, including chemical, mechanochemical, hydrothermal, biochemical methods, as well as
process intensification techniques using ultrasound, microwaves, and electromagnetic fields. The
advantages and limitations of various technologies, as well as their environmental aspects, are
discussed. Thus, humic substances are considered multifunctional natural compounds with significant
potential for improving soil fertility, enhancing the sustainability of agroecosystems, and developing
biologically active products for agriculture. Their use opens new opportunities for the advancement of
environmentally oriented agricultural technologies and for addressing current challenges in food
security and environmental protection.
G.A. Yerekeshova, S. Kabdrakhmanova, A. Kabdrakhmanova et al.· Bulletin of Korkyt Ata Kyzyl...· 0 citations
Synthetic materials used to enhance the productivity of agricultural crops have, in turn, begun to exert negative impacts on soil ecology. This has led to an increased interest in environmentally safe biomaterials. In this context, an antibacterial biofilm was developed based on oxidized starch and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as well as cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) derived from corn husk (CH). According to the obtained results, the film containing 3% CNFs exhibited the highest mechanical strength, reaching 3.87 MPa. To impart antibacterial properties to the resulting biofilm, different volumetric amounts of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) synthesized via a green method were incorporated. As a result, the biofilm containing 1 mL of CuNPs demonstrated the highest antibacterial activity. It was also found that, compared to the pristine film, the mechanical strength of the CuNPs-immobilized biofilm decreased by threefold, while its flexibility increased. The antibacterial biofilm was comparatively characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM, and TGA techniques, and its physicochemical properties were determined. The biodegradation behavior of the biofilm in soil was also investigated, revealing that 57% of its total mass degraded within 80 days. In this context, it was determined that the degradation of the biofilm did not significantly affect soil pH or the levels of macro- and microelements. Based on its physicochemical properties, the obtained biofilm demonstrates high potential for application in the agro-industrial sector as a mulching film, as well as in the production of food packaging materials and bioplastics.
K. Akatan, A. Battalova, Nazym Sagiyeva et al.· Engineer· 0 citations
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