Influence of some soil chemical properties on yield of tea (Camellia sinensis) in the Dooars Region of North Bengal, India

Abstract

The soils of Dooars (the sub-Himalayan regions of North Bengal) are high in organic C and available S compared to the prime tea-growing areas ofAssam. The effect of these two parameters as well as soil pH and available K, routinely tested in tea soils of Northeast lndia, on yield of tea was assessed. The results were compared with earlier observations made on the tea soils ofAssam. Effect of soil pH and available K status on yield of tea is similar to that of Assam. The survey showed that the productivity of tea soils was often lower where the organic C is greater than 2% and/or where the available S was greater than 30 ppm. The possible reason may be due to the interaction of soil pH, organic C and available S in the tea soils of Dooars and their interactions on yield of tea.