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Requirement of Lime in Tea Growing Areas to Improve Growth and Yield of Tea in Bangladesh

A.K.Saha
SSO
Soil Science Division, Bangladesh Tea Research Institute, Sreemangal-3210, Moulvibazar

S.H.Rahman
Professor
Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka

S.Hoque
Professor
Departrment of Soil, Water & Environment, Dhaka University, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Yield of tea in Bangladesh is low compared to other tea growing countries of the world. Low pH is one of the main reasons for low yield. To investigate the status of pH level of tea soils, data of different tea estates from 2006 t0 2009 was collected from Bangladesh Tea Research Institute Soil Analytical Reports. Data show that in 2006, optimum pH level (4.5 -5.8) was found in 53% of the samples analyzed whereas in 2009 this level reduced to 26%. It reveals that this optimum range was decreasing gradually per year. On the other hand, percent of soil samples having pH between 4.0 -4.4 was recorded as 44 in 2006 and it was increased to 59 in 2009.This reveals that pH was decreasing sharply with time. Amount of liming material required to raise pH to certain level depends on initial pH of the soil. This study showed that 2.5, 9.97, 10.14, 14.00 and 17.55 t/ha dolomite were required to raise pH to 5.0 from 4.5, 4.1, 4.0, 3.4 and 3.3, respectively. To find out the impact of lime on the yield in combination with other fertilizers, an experiment consisted of 7 treatments was set up in Sathgao Tea Estate Section 22, Bilashcherra section 8 and section 2. In these experimental areas, calculated amount of dolomite was applied to the treatment along with fertilizers. It was recorded that in Sathgao experimental area the yields of T6 and T7 treatments were increased over T4 and T5 by 14% and 4.2%, respectively. In Bilashcherra experimental plot 8, yield of T6 increased over T4 by 1.6% whereas T7 increased over T5 by 6.8%. In case of Bilashcherra section 2, increments of yield were found as 4.4% and 5.8% at the same sequence. Use of fertilizers had also an impact in lowering pH of soil. Effect of liming material was found to vary in two different areas.

Keywords: Dolomitic Lime, Soil pH, Acidity, Efficency of fertilizer, Yield, Tea

Location: Soil Science Division, Bangladesh Tea Research Institute, Sreemangal-3210, Moulvibazar

Start Date: 00-00-2006

End Date: 00-00-2009

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Tea, Liming

Objectives:

This study was undertaken to know the amount and impact of lime on the pH of soil and yield of tea in Bangladesh.

Methodology:

pH data of different tea estates from the 2006-2009 were collected from the advisory reports of Bangladesh Tea Research Institute and categorized into four levels such as below 4.0, 4.0 –4.4, 4.5 –5.0 and above 5.0 to see the changing pattern of pH values over the period. For this 3370 pH data were collected. These were converted into percent according to the four categories. In order to increase the pH to optimum level for maximizing the production, five soil samples were collected from five tea areas located at different topography under two series. Three soils from Bilascherra Experimental Farm (BEF) of BTRI -one from flat area and two from tillah and two from Sathgao Tea Estate-one from flat area and another from tillah to find out actual doses of lime require to increase the pH level to 5.0. Five soil samples at a depth of 0-23 cm were collected from each area. Collected soils were then ground and mixed well to find out the initial nutrient status and to determine the amount of lime required for increasing the pH value to a level of 5.0. For this, an incubation experiment was carried out by applying Ca(OH)2 at doses of 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.08 g, 0.12, 0.16, 0.2 and 0.24/ 20g soil in moist condition for 25 days. The amount of lime required per hectare was calculated considering treatment of soil by liming materials the depth of 23 cm that is usual in tea cultivation. The calculated amount was then converted into dolomite. Considering the dolomite which would be 90 % purity. To know the impact of lime on the yield, an experiment consisting of 7 treatments was set up in Sathgao Tea Estate Section 22, Bilashcherra section 8 and Bilashcherra section 2. The calculated amount of dolomite was then applied to treatment T6 & T7 in these three experimental areas. Treatments of the experiment were as follows,T1= Control, T2= 170kg N/ha + 25 kg P/ha + 125 kg K/ha, T3= NPK (Same as T2) + 50 kg S/ha, T4= NPKS (Same as T3) + 10 kg Zn/ha + 5 kg B/ha, T5= NPKS (Same as T3) + Micronutrients (Same as T4) + 10 tons Compost, T6= Lime (*t/ha) + NPKS (Same as T3) + Micronutrients (Same as T4), T7= Lime (*t/ha) +NPKS (Same as T3) + Micronutrients (Same as T4) + Compost (Same as T5), *As liming material, dolomite @ 2.5 , 9.96 and 10.13 t/ha was applied in Sathgao Tea Estate Section 22, Bilashcherra Section 8 and Section 2, respectively, and as fertilizer Urea, TSP, MOP, Gypsum, Zinc sulphate (monohydrate) and Boric acid was applied in all the experimental plots. Amount of dolomite was applied one month before application of fertilizers. Yield data was recorded for 3 years.

Source of Information: Tea J. Bangladesh, 44: 10-18, 2015 ISSN: 0253-5483

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The pH range of Bangladesh tea soil lies between 4.5 and 5.8. Most of the tea soils in Bangladesh are acidic in reaction having pH values less than 5.0 and this is mainly continuous application of nitrogenous fertilizer (urea) and high rainfall. This would create a nutrient imbalance and subsequently affect the growth and yield of tea plants. It is important to change the pH of the soil at optimum levels by application of lime after assessing the pH value of the soil. Optimum use of lime increases the availability of nutrients and as a consequence improves tea yield

Knowledge Management: Journal