Extraction and characterization of humic acid from vermicompost and farm yard manure

Abstract

A lab experiment was conducted to extract humic acid from locally available organic wastes like vermicompost and FYM by following standard alkaline extraction method. Extracted humic acid was subjected to characterization by analyzing total acidity, E4/E6 ratio, pH, EC, CEC, total organic carbon and total macro and micro nutrients. After characterization the results showed that the humic acid extracted from vermicompost is significantly superior over the humic acid from farm yard mnure. Humic acid from vermicompost has higher recovery per cent (5.20), total acidity (5.5meq g-1), E4/E6 ratio (4.73), pH (4.25), EC (0.25), CEC (380 cmol (p+) kg-1), total OC (360.80 g kg-1), C:N ratio (13.14), total N (2.80%), P (0.045%), K (0.28%), S (0.95%), Ca (0.20%), Mg (0.12%),Fe (3400 mg kg-1), Mn (523 mg kg-1), Cu (121.5 mg kg-1) and Zn (272 mg kg-1).