Combining humic substances with the plant microbiome. This is the proposal of a research defended at the University of Navarra's Faculty of Science of the University of Navarra to seek more effective and sustainable solutions for crop development. The thesis of Dr. David de Hita "Effects of sedimentary humic acids on endophytic microbiomes: implications andagronomical potential" is part of the TIMAC AGRO Chair - University of Navarra.     

The work developed by De Hita has been pioneering in the combination of humic substances and plant endophytic microorganisms. "Knowing which microorganisms are affected by the use of humic substances allows us to look for synergies that positively affect the plant, creating more effective and ecological biostimulants. We have also isolated and characterized a group of these microorganisms with the aim of testing their effect on plant growth," adds the young researcher.

De Hita's research has focused on the use of humic substances - organic substances used in agriculture as plant growth stimulants - in the plant microbiome. "The goal is to create knowledge that helps improve agricultural yields while respecting the environment," De Hita adds.

The interest of this research is twofold since, on the one hand, new products could be created for the agricultural industry "with a positive impact on the environment, avoiding the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers" and, on the other hand, it would have an impact on the economy of the farmer who "with a single product would solve several problems that today must be addressed with different products". 

The future development of this research involves using some of the isolated endophytic microorganisms and testing their effect on crop development. "This phase is very important because we not only have to take into account the type of microorganism we can use but also the type of plant, the mode and timing of application, and the amount of product. All this takes time and a lot of work, but we believe we can do it," concludes the young doctor.