Dankworth, props to you. The green spine is fascinating. I started off copying Fatman's nute profiles. Nowadays I aim for 5 ppm of iron (0.5) at an EC of 2.0. I'd think that only 5 ppm at an EC of 3.0 might introduce some chemical interactions (with P, K and Cu). The feedback I've gotten from other growers, is stanky and super potent. I can't say for sure it's just the iron, as all my micros are much higher than hobby nutes. I still haven't gotten solid, repeatable input to tailor my nute profile.
I concur with your assessments regarding iron. I just fed 7 ppms iron at an ec of 4.0, I am inclined to bump it to 10 ppms next res.
I can state that I have every confidence and belief that iron does just what you said, makes shit stankier and more potent. I have not played with individual micro values, but the iron keeps popping up as a huge culprit in all this due to a variety of corroborating characteristics. I have a suspicion that boron is of great importance in all of this, but I cannot elaborate, that really is purely a hunch. I think it potentiates usage of at least 1 other element to make special shit happen for potency and production of particular terpene sets.
Cap in the other thread last night was kind enough to kick down info on a bigass research paper by real scientists. He also points out how on page 29(?) of this paper, it is stated that the Fe:Mn value should fall between 1.5 and 2.5, else there be toxicities related to Fe or Mn.
My current micro mix is lacking in Mn, does not support these ratios, must fix that as soon as I can to see what changes occur in morphology and scent.
I hear you on lack of test beds. I think I'll be fucking with my cultivar that gave me absolute grail performance over a year ago forever and ever. Or until I can dial it to be the equal of what it was then. Then I could get it and the formula for dialage out to people who could get the herb to folks with Crohn's. It healed like nothing has before or since.
Thanks for your input, you figured out the nute game before we did recently, it is cool to have the benefit of your experience. Good to see you around.
My body is consistently anemic due to iron absorption issues. It smells iron and tells me to go get some. When my res smells right, and my plants, my body will ring like a tuning fork like it did when my strain turned out so well.
I think at 10 ppms iron I should shoot for 5 ppms manganese, a 2:1 ratio to be smack dab in the middle of the recommended range.