Abstract
A survey of the trace element status of Jamaican soils was conducted by analysing 31 soil type for their contents of total and available zinc, manganese, copper and boron. Results of this investigation have indicated that about half of these soils are low in available zinc. The corresponding figures for Mn, Cu and B were 25, 35 and 20 percent respectively, suggesting that special attention should be given to those trace elements, particularly where high crop productivity is anticipated. The alluvials and soils developed from calcareous shales tend to have adequate amounts of trace elements, while the purple conglomerate soils and those developed over granodiorites and quartz porphyry are low in plant-available trace elements. Further investigations using indicator crops should be initiated in order to quantify further the trace element status of these soils.