Mechanism of humate effect on soil structure is individual for different soil types. In light soils humate envelopes and glues together mineral particles of soil, contributing to the creation of valuable lumpy-grained water-permeable structure, improving its air permeability, water permeability and water-holding capacity.On heavy clay soils humic acids penetrate into the interpacked spaces of clay particles, contributing to the destruction of compact three-dimensional structure of clay with the same name extraction of metal ions
(Ma, Ca, K, Me). As a consequence, the soil structure changes: it becomes more friable, excess moisture evaporates from it more easily, air permeability improves, which facilitates breathing and root movement.
Improved soil structure ultimately improves the erosion resistance of the soil.
Moisture retention.
The ability of humates to retain moisture is due to the formation of hydrogen bonds between charged groups of humates and water molecules, as well as metal ions absorbed on them. As a result, water evaporation is reduced by about 30 per cent, which improves plant uptake of moisture in sandy soils.