what scientific research - to prove the mineral intake of plants

Hi

I am struggling to find an answer and maybe the question is to complex to answer easily, when so many things effect the outcome.

Has scientific research been done to find out what plants are consuming and extruding in an severely controlled environment. would there be any point, taking in mind the diversity of biological interaction in nature?

The only scientific proof i can see is the fact that certain plants grow better with specific minerals. surely there has been more clinical study s.

Anyone know of any study's you can point me to? or just your point of view on the value of this type of study.

Thanks

Ben

Hey Benedict, welcome to permies

Perhaps I’m misunderstanding your question, but you’re wanting to know more about plant nutrition?

The Wikipedia article on the subject is decent, and references a number of scholarly articles that may have what you’re looking for.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_nutrition

Is there proof, and is it true? Well, it depends - remember that we as people often make the mistake of assuming that what is already known, is all there is to know. As far as we can tell plants are taking up minerals/nutrients and using them, and exuding carbon, among other things, into their surroundings.

Are their mistakes in our current knowledge? Probably. Are there large gaps in our current knowledge? Absolutely.

It's probably best to focus on specific nutrients instead of trying to find something that covers all possible variables. For example, this book probably has more info on iron uptake than you'd ever want to know.

You could start with Elaine Ingham and Jill Clapperton. Both provide lots of information about what plants take from, and give back to the soil biome.
Big subject, lots of research, some coming from highly reductionist approaches that don't fit well with a permaculture understanding, some much more holistic.
Looking at Ingham and Clapperton will show you where the rabbit hole is. How far down you go is on you