The Effects of Tea Plantation Upon the Soil Properties Based Upon the Comparative Study of India and China: A Meta – Analysis

Abstract

The effects of tea plantations upon soil are of great concern in the context of monoculture crops due to their increasing demand resulting in the expansion of tea growing areas. Therefore, this study was conducted to understand the soil’s Physico-chemical properties, soil nutrient concentrations, and stoichiometry in major tea-growing areas of India and China. For this study Meta-analysis approach was used to examine the difference between the two countries. Soil pH tends to be more acidic in Chinese soil (CS) than in Indian Soil (IS), soil Bulk Density (BD) was higher in CS with low soil Total Porosity (TP). Whereas the soil texture in CS was fine texture with Silt Clay while IS texture was coarse with sandy clay loam. Soil Carbon (C) showed no significant difference; while Nitrogen (N) concentration showed a significant difference only at the top layer with a higher concentration in IS. Soil Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) concentration were significantly higher CS than IS at all soil depths. The C: N ratio in both the countries was below 10 showing the accumulation of organic matter is low whilst the C: P ratio showed net mineralization of nutrients in both the countries. The N: P ratio represented N limitation in CS while P limitations in IS. The comparison of soil physical-chemical properties between India and China revealed the distinct differences between the tea plantation soils in both of these countries. Except for C concentration C: P, N: K, and P: K ratio all the properties are deemed to be different. Our results suggest that a balanced fertilizer application and these N and P limitations in tea growing soil of these two countries should be paid more attention to.