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Comparative Study on Tea Soils of South India and Bangladesh

A. Biswas
Scientific Officer
Soil Science Division, Bangladesh Tea Research Institute, Srimangal, Moulvibazar

M.A. Motalib
Chief Scientific Officer
Department of Chemistry, Bangladesh Tea Research Institute, Srimangal, Moulvibazar

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A comparative study on tea soils of south India and Bangladesh was done to know about the fertility status of the tea soils of south India and Bangladesh which is directly related to the productivity of tea. It contains predominantly kaolinite type of clay which lacks fixation sites. Tea soils of south India contain large amounts of free sesquioxides and phosphorus fixation is very strong. Tea soils of Bangladesh are generally medium textured with low organic matter and nitrogen contents. South Indian tea soils are heavy in character. It contains 1- 8% organic matter while tea soils of Bangladesh contain 1.0-1.2%. The textural class of the south Indian tea soils varies from sandy clay loam to clay while the tea soils in Bangladesh are predominantly loamy to sandy loam. Exchangeable aluminium content of the tea soils of Bangladesh is over 85%. pH of the tea soils of south India is around 5.0, while in Bangladesh most of the tea soils of Balisera, Lungla and Monu-Doloi circles are below 4.5. The organic matter and pH status is better in the tea soils of Panchagarh (Northern part) in Bangladesh.

Keywords: Tea soil, Organic matter, Physico-chemical properties, Fertility

Location: Bangladesh Tea Research Institute

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Knowledge Management

Commodity: Land management

Objectives:

To present comparative status of physico-chemical properties of tea soils of Bangladesh as well as South India which will help maintenance of organic matter in our tea soil and thereby increase tea production.

Methodology:

Physico-chemical properties of the south Indian tea soils were collected as secondary data from the published books, journals and articles of the UPASI Tea Research Foundation when the author was in a Post Graduate Diploma course at Kothari Agriculture Management Centre, Tamil Nadu, India. On the other hand, the data of Bangladesh tea soils were collected from the published books, journals and articles of the Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI). Besides, some recent unpublished analytical data on nutrient status of some tea soils of Bangladesh were compiled in this study. These chemical analyses were done in the soil science laboratory of BTRI. Soil samples were collected from different tea growing circles of Bangladesh such as Balisera, Juri, Lungla, Luskerpore, Monu-Doloi, North Sylhet and Panchagarh. Soil samples were collected from a depth of 0-23 cm. Texture, pH, organic carbon (%), total nitrogen (%), available phosphorus (ppm), potassium (ppm), calcium (ppm) and magnesium (ppm) of the samples were analysed. Soil texture was determined by hydrometer method and pH was determined by using pH meter (Soil: distilled water = 1:2.5). Walkley and Black wet oxidation method was used to determine soil organic carbon (%). For determination of total nitrogen (in %) Micro Kjeldahl steam distillation method was applied. Colorimetric estimation of available phosphorus was done by ascorbic acid method. Available potassium, calcium and magnesium were extracted with 77% ammonium acetate solution. Available potassium was determined by flame photometer while calcium and magnesium were determined by AAS (atomic absorption spectrophotometer).

Source of Information: Tea J. Bangladesh, 41, 27-36, 2012, ISSN: 0253-5483

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

From the comparative study on the physico-chemical properties of tea soils of south India and Bangladesh it can be concluded that the organic matter content of the south Indian tea soils are much more better than the Bangladesh tea soil and it is due to the elevation and also some extent for organic matter management process. Organic matter is very important part of the soil which influence the physical as well as the chemical properties of the tea soil. In tea field pruning litters is the main source of organic matter which should be maintained properly. As like south India incorporation of pruned litters will be a great measure to maintain the organic matter status in the tea soils of Bangladesh. In order to increase the productivity of the land and quality of tea, attention is to be grown to avail the full potential of the land and to maintain soil productivity by innovating a fertilizer policy. At the same time, it is also necessary to amend the soil reaction by liming for the best utilization of plant nutrients. Old tea soils also need to be replenished under rehabilitation programs especially by growing green manuring crops. Regular monitoring of nutrient status and the integrated fertilizer management of tea soils is essential for increasing soil productivity and improving tea quality for meeting domestic consumption and earning foreign exchange.

Knowledge Management: Journal