Growing in the same spot

[b54red]

I have been planting in the same small garden for nearly 35 years. My soil seems very healthy, good texture, lot of organic matter, and teeming with earthworms. Over the years I have added many different soil amendments from manures to compost and all kinds of natural organic matter. I had my most successful year with tomatoes last year, despite near torrential rainfall and persistent foliar disease, some fusarium and TSWV.
What I am worried about is whether there are trace elements that have been sapped from my soil that are not replaced with the usual amendments that need to be added back in. I garden intensively with very little space not used at any one time. I have 8 raised beds that are now over 30 years old and increasing shade due to some small trees planted many years ago that are no longer small.

[dustdevil]

Do a soil test...why guess.

[b54red]

Been there done that. My soil shows excellent levels in everything but nitrogen. My nitrogen sources are slow release and natural so they don't show up accurately in a soil test. I've never seen anyone's soil test around here that didn't say to add nitrogen. I don't think I have a nitrogen deficiency because my plants grow fast and get quite large. I was wondering more about rare elements that don't show up on soil tests. It is probably something I will never know or really need to know. It was just a thought that has been popping into my head occasionally over the years and this site is such a wealth of information I decided to pose the question.

[Timmah!]

Are these 'rare' elements to which you refer ones that wouldn't show up on a test conducted by your local agricultural extension office?

[habitat_gardener]

Originally Posted by b54red

... I don't think I have a nitrogen deficiency because my plants grow fast and get quite large. I was wondering more about rare elements that don't show up on soil tests. ...

I think the best soil test is healthy plants. That is, if your plants are healthy and aren't showing any odd growth patterns or whatever, that probably means they're getting what they need. I've seen some references that show effects of abiotic problems (Univ. of Calif. publishes one), or you could look up "micronutrient deficiency" or even individual elements such as "Cu deficiency" to see what deficiencies in trace quantities of essential elements would look like.

[VORTREKER]

b54red,

The average person could not afford a soil test for micro and trace elements. Would cost at least $15,000.
The answer to the question of your soil lacking some is most likely yes. In the 1940's Congress commissioned a study that most American soils were seriously deficient in micro and trace minerals, the exceptions are areas near volcanoes, so there can be little doubt unless you have added seaweed or volcanic minerals.
Maxicrop Liquid Seaweed is great , especially as a foliar spray. It is harvested from clean waters that are flush with volcanic minerals. It is cheap, it is safe. Foliar application is more effective than a soil drench but then again not sure your leaves need any more water on them in that Sauna zone of yours. If you ever get a window of low humidity spray both sides of the leaves in early morning.

[b54red]

Originally Posted by habitat_gardener

I think the best soil test is healthy plants. That is, if your plants are healthy and aren't showing any odd growth patterns or whatever, that probably means they're getting what they need. what deficiencies in trace quantities of

I think they are healthy other than the diseases that are endemic to this area. As a matter of fact the tomatoes I grow that don't succumb to disease early tend to provide me and my family with fresh tomatoes long after most people have plowed their tomatoes under around here. I was thinking more along the lines of a micro that may be missing that would help with the fusarium that continues to get a little bit worse each year affecting some of my tomatoes while the other crops do great. With my soil so healthy and full of worms I guess it is also good for fusarium as well.

[Timmah!]

Originally Posted by VORTREKER

The average person could not afford a soil test for micro and trace elements. Would cost at least $15,000.

Regarding the purpose of a soil test/analysis, what are you calling trace elements & what are you calling micro elements. And where are you getting a figure of fifteen thousand dollars?

[habitat_gardener]

Originally Posted by Timmah!

...what are you calling trace elements & what are you calling micro elements....

Plants need 13 "essential" elements.

The macronutrients are N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S

The micronutrients are Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, B, Mo, Cl

In addition, plants can use other minerals in trace amounts -- including Na, Co, V, Ni, Se, Al, Si -- but they are not defined as essential.

Google plant nutrients chart for some articles.

[bohica]

I get a fairly detailed soil test from A&L labs in Modesto California twice a yr, once in the spring and once in the fall. The soil test have been a critical part of getting my soil near balanced. If you don't know where you are, you cannot make the necesarry adjustments.
These tests will provide you with the levels for the following:
Nitrogen, Phos including weak bray, Potassium, magnesium, Calcium, Sodium, sulfur, Zinc, manganese, Iron, Copper, Boron and chloride.
It will give you the % on your Organic matter, the Cation Saturation %, PH, Salinity, and you can get the tests with recommendations, or send it to someone like myself or other willing growers that may be able to read them and make recommendations.
These tests generally cost between $20 -$35, but are worth their weight and essential for anyone who has been growing in the same area, or that wants to adjust their soil for maximum health and yield.

[VORTREKER]

That's very informative bohica--will try them--Thanks

[Timmah!]

Originally Posted by habitat_gardener

Plants need 13 "essential" elements.

The macronutrients are N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S

The micronutrients are Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, B, Mo, Cl

In addition, plants can use other minerals in trace amounts -- including Na, Co, V, Ni, Se, Al, Si -- but they are not defined as essential.

Google plant nutrients chart for some articles.

Thank you; I know what is defined as Macro & Micro nutrients needed for a healthy plant; I was just curious as to what Vortreker was defining as a list that would cost $15,000 to have analyzed.