Sick or rich: Assessing the selected soil properties and fertility status across the tea-growing region of Dooars, West Bengal, India

Abstract

Harnessing the potential yields of evergreen perennial crops like tea (Camellia sinensis L.) essentially requires the application of optimum doses of nutrients based on the soil test reports. In the present study, the soil pH, organic carbon (OC), available potassium as K2O (AK), and available sulphur (AS) of 7300 soil samples from 115 tea estates spread over the Dooars ranging from 88°52’E to 89°86’E longitude and 26°45’N to 27°00’N latitude of West Bengal, India have been documented. About 54% of soil samples were found within the optimum range of soil pH (4.50-5.50) for tea cultivation. The overall range of OC was found from 0.28% to 6.00% of which, 94% of the analyzed samples were within the range of satisfactory to excellent level of OC i.e. (>0.80% to 6.00%). Around 36.3% of soil samples were found to have high AK (>100 mg kg-1) but 37.1% of soils were found to have high AS content (>40 mg kg-1). The nutrient index status of soil pH was low in Dam Dim, Chulsa, Nagrakata, Binnaguri, and Jainti sub-districts. Soils from five sub-districts had a high nutrient index (2.47 to 2.83) for soil organic carbon. However, it existed in the medium index (1.69 and 2.22) for Dalgaon and Kalchini sub-districts. Only Nagrakata sub-district soil samples were in the high nutrient index (2.65) for AK. All analyzed samples showed a medium nutrient index (1.97 to 2.27) for AS. The result indicated that soil pH was significantly negatively correlated with soil OC (-0.336) and AK (-0.174). However, the soil OC was significantly positive correlated with AK (0.258) and AS (0.100). It could be concluded that a balanced fertilizer application would be needed as a part of the soil improvement program through soil chemical tests for sustainable tea cultivation.

Optimization of phosphorus-loaded Ni–ZnO crosslinked carboxy methyl cellulose-based biodegradable nanocomposite hydrogel beads for the slow release of P, Ni and Zn: a kinetic approach

“…A degradation test of the hydrogel was performed at pH = 4.5. Our preliminary study revealed that the average pH of dryland soil is 4.50 ( n = 7300, data not shown); 49 therefore, the degradation study was performed at pH 4.5. The degradability test of the hydrogel was measured using the tea bag method.…”

Tea polyphenols: extraction techniques and its potency as a nutraceutical

“…In India, Dooars is the most famous region for cultivating black tea, upto 32% from West Bengal state. This region is known for Orthodox tea, black teas and CTC (Malakar et al, 2022). Darjeeling tea with a distinct muscatel flavor comes from West Bengal and India.…”

TEA SOIL: Self-Power IoT for Precision Soil Farming of Tea Plant Cultivation

“…Healthy soils for tea gardens frequently have a total nitrogen content of more than 0.1%. The pH of the soil can fluctuate between (4.5 and 5.50) [9]. Two methods are available for determining the type of soil: image analysis and chemical analysis [10].…”