We have studied the spectral luminescence characteristics of aqueous solutions of humic products obtained from different raw material sources, and their behavior as the excitation wavelength increases from 270 nm to 355 nm. We have identified differences in the spectral properties of industrial humic products from coalified materials, lignin-containing organic waste, and humic products from plant raw material (peat, sapropel, vermicompost). We have shown that humic products from plant raw material have spectral properties closer to those for humic substances in natural water or soil than humic products from coalified materials.

To estimate the influence of a number of commercial humic products (HPs) on living organisms and their detoxification ability in Cu-polluted soil, a model experiment was carried out. Model soil mixture was incubated with five commercially available humates, manufactured from different organic source materials (coal, peat and lignosulphonate) applied at the rate of 0.1 g kg−1 during 21 days. In parallel soil was incubated with 660 g kg−1 Cu as copper nitrate and the same humates were applied. After incubation, the soil content of Cu was determined. Community-level physiological profiling (CLPP) and bioassays using plants (barley and mustard) and algae (Scenedesmus quadricauda) as test cultures were carried out. Results showed that most of HPs tested increased soil biological activity and demonstrated certain detoxification ability, depending on HPs’ nature and sensitivity of the test cultures.