Strategy for sustainable tea cultivation using microbial consortium of biofertilizers : A case study

Abstract

Exploitation and utilization of microbial bio fertilizers for reducing dependence on synthetic chemicals is a good strategy for tea planters, as input of bio fertilizers with less use of inorganic fertilizers can help in the improvement of soil health and reduce environmental contamination as well. The present investigation deals with the exploitation and utilization of certain native beneficial soil microbes [Azotobacter sp. (AZR), Azospirillum sp. (AZM), Bacillus sp. (BST) and their consortium] in tea soil as biofertilizers, for optimal plant nutrients starting from the planting pit in young tea management (YTM). The YTD treatments were divided into – (I) Full Dose (FD) and (II) Half Dose (HD). Among all the treatments, crop gain was recorded maximum at Azotobacter sp. (HD) followed by Azospirillum sp. (HD) indicating microbial potentiality with lesser chemical input. The other plant growth parameters viz., plant biomass, stem girth and the number of branches were also found to increase significantly in the microbial treated plots. At HD of NPK, the performance of Azotobacter sp. was observed to be better, with an increase of 10.7% gain over control in stem girth compared to Azospirillum sp. (8.8% increase), while per cent gain in biomass was maximum with Azospirillum sp. (up to 55.5%). The plants subjected to microbial treatments showed increased branching over control. The findings of the experiment thus, ensures the potential of using microbial biocides in combination with inorganic fertilizers, as an eco-friendly and more reliable component to achieve sustainable tea cultivation and in the long run it would serve as an asset for renewable source of energy and nutrients.

Keywords: Beneficial microbes, inorganic fertilizer, microbial biocide, plant biomass, sustainable tea cultivation, young tea management.