Impact of humic acid on soil microbiome

Soil health, which is important for one and planetary health, is under threat worldwide. More efforts and technologies for the restoration of soils is urgently needed. Here we study the effect of a combined chemical (artificial humic acids [A-HAs] sustainably produced from waste) and biological intervention (soil microbiome transplants) for the restoration of three artificially depleted soil microbiomes originated from urban gardening, agri- and horticulture. A-HA treatment had a stronger effect on bacterial richness and community structure in degraded than in the original soil. Soil microbiome transplants were partially able to regenerate microbial abundances and increased bacterial richness and diversity in the degraded soils.