The inorganic fertilizer that is used excessively in tea plantations causes soil health degradation. Tea pruning residue and tea fluff are local biomass that has the potential to be used as alternatives to soil nutrient input that is not well conducted in the tea plantation. This study evaluated biochar from the residue of tea pruning and tea fluff compost as potential organic materials to improve the chemical properties of soil in tea plantations. The tea pruning residue biochar and tea fluff compost were mixed in Inceptisols in a pot experiment with treatment combinations of A = control, B = 2.5 t manure compost/ha, C= 0.25% biochar + 1 t tea fluff compost/ha, D = 0.50% biochar + 1 t tea fluff compost/ha, E= 0.75% biochar + 1 t tea fluff compost /ha, F = 0.25% biochar + 1 t tea fluff compost/ha + 2.5 t manure compost/ha, G = 0.50% biochar + 1 t tea fluff compost/ha + 2.5 t manure compost/ha, and H = 0.75% biochar + 1 t tea fluff compost/ha + 2.5 t manure compost/ha. Soil incubation was conducted for 90 days, and soil samples were analyzed for pH, organic C, available P, exchangeable Mg, and exchangeable K contents. The results showed that the mixture of 0.50% biochar + 1 t tea fluff compost /ha + 2.5 t manure compost/ha gave the most optimal improvement in soil properties. The improvement percentages of soil properties obtained were available P of 334%, Exchangeable Mg of 38%, exchangeable K of 244% and pH of 4.6.
Tea plantation area in recent years has decreased by 0.75% annually. With the decline in the area of tea plantations, productivity also decreases. Decreased productivity can be caused by erosion, climate, clones, and management applications. The purpose of this study was to determine the availability of soil nutrients in Pagar Alam tea plantation and the relationship with productivity. The observation was held with secondary data and analyzed statistically with the correlation method. Parameters observed were pH, organic C, total N, P2O5, exchangeable K, and exchangeable Mg. The result showed that the relationship between soil nutrients such as organic C, total N, available P, exchangeable K, and exchangeable Mg with productivity was weak with correlation coefficient values of 0.00 – 0.199. These results also showed that the correlation was negative, which means that the two variables were inversely proportional. Plant maintenance factors have a more significant role in tea plant productivity than nutrients and fertilization, such as picking, pruning, root zone improvement, and plant pest control. If these factors can be controlled properly, shoot production will increase, and plant health can be maintained. Thus, in this case, the nutrient factor is not the main factor affecting productivity at Pagar Alam Tea Plantation, indeed the plant care factor.
Tea plant (Camellia sinensis (L.) O Kuntze) is one of the important plantation commodities that has long been cultivated in Indonesia. Mineral based ameliorant fertilization is one of the important factors to produce high productivity and maintenance of healthy plants. Ameliorant bio-organomineral (BIOM) is a fertilizer that utilizes mineral resources, potential microbes, and organic matter. This study aimed to determine the effect of BIOM's ameliorant on plant health and tea productivity after pruning. The Randomized Block Design (RBD) was accomplished by 8 treatments and three replications (100% conventional fertilizer, 100% BIOM, 80% single fertilizer + 100% BIOM, 80% conventional fertilizer + 80% BIOM, 80% conventional fertilizer + 60% BIOM, 60% conventional fertilizer + 100% BIOM, 60% conventional fertilizer + 80% BIOM, and 60% conventional fertilizer + 60% BIOM). The results showed that there was a significant effect of the combination of conventional fertilizer and BIOM ameliorant on shoot production and pekoe percentage, but not significantly different in tipping production, pekoe shoot ratio and banji shoots. The combination of 60% conventional fertilizer and 60% BIOM showed the highest total production of 31.81 kg/plot. Shoot production in the BIOM treatment was 17.36% higher than that of the conventional fertilizer application. The application of BIOM ameliorant was able to improve the plant health after pruning on the GMB 7 clone.
Healthy soil could support plant growth by optimizing the availability of nutrients. The availability of nutrients influences the health of tea plants. Nutrient deficiencies would affect the plant physiology that exhibits the plant withering. This study aimed to define the relationship between soil nutrient availability with plant nutrient uptake. This research was conducted by managing secondary data soil chemical properties, and tea plant nutrients analyzed statistically with Pearson correlation. This study only found a significant correlation between soil pH with P and Mg uptake. Correlation results between soil nutrient and plant nutrient uptake obtained a significantly negative correlation on soil pH with P and Mg nutrients with a correlation value of pH-P (r=-0.52), pH-Mg (r=-0.52). There was no correlation between other soil nutrients and plant nutrient uptake. The results of this study can be used to determine the dose of fertilization and the management recommendation of tea plants.
Input factor is one of the determinator the quality and response of the tea plant growth. Inorganic fertilizer input still dominates in Indonesian plantations due to the lack of comprehensive evaluation of organic fertilizers, especially in liquid form. This study aims to determine the effect of inorganic and organic liquid fertilizer applications and the frequency of their application on the growth of tea plants. The experiment was carried out based on a Randomized Block Design (RBD) consisting of six treatment combinations, including tap water application once a week, tap water once every two weeks, 1% urea once a week, 1% urea every two weeks, 1% POC once a week and 1% POC once every two weeks. Experiments were carried out on yielding tea plants with the 3rd year of pruning stage. The parameters observed were shoot production (kg/plot), weight of banji and pekoe (g/100g) and the ratio of banji/pekoe. The results showed that the application of urea foliar fertilizer and liquid organic fertilizer with different application frequencies did not have a significant effect on each observed parameter. Application of 1% liquid organic fertilizer once every two weeks has the potential to increase tea productivity by showing a relatively high production of tea (6,88 kg/plot) compared to other treatments.
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