Soil organic matter fractions and their influence on soil nutrient availability and productivity of tea in the south bank

Abstract

Organic matter of forty two samples of tea soils (0-15 cm depth) from the south Bank was fractionated. The humus carbon accounted for about 58.4 per cent of total organic carbon. The fulvic acid fraction was the major fraction of humus (63.2%). Humus (HUC), fulvic acid (FAC), non-humic (NHC) carbon contents were higher in the high yielding tea fields compared to low yielding fields. Correlation of these fractions with yield and available nutrients was also studied.