Soil parameters for higher productivity of tea

Abstract

A survey was carried out in eightyfour high, medium and low yielding sections of eighteen tea estates of Upper Assam to find out if any correlation exists between soil parameters and productivity of tea.  Soil samples collected from these sections were analysed for pH, organic carbon, clay content, water stable aggregates, available potash, available phosphate, available sulphur, exchangeable calcium, exchangeable magnesium and cation exchange capacity.  Results indicated high productivity of tea to be associated with pH within the range of 4.5 – 5.0, organic carbon more than 1% and clay content within 11-15%. Water stable aggregates of 0.5 to 2.0 mm size were found to influence productivity positively.  Exchangeable Ca and Mg on the other hand had a negative influence on productivity while no definite trend was observed with other parameters in this study.