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Yield and quality
response of tea plant to fertilizers
Shahram Sedaghathoor, Ali Mohammadi Torkashvand, Davood
Hashemabadi and Behzad Kaviani
Islamic Azad University, Rasht Branch, Rasht, Iran.
*Corresponding author.
E-mail:
sedaghathoor@iaurasht.ac.ir ,
sedaghathoor@yahoo.com .
Accepted 24 May, 2009 |
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To improve
quality and yield of Iranian tea, this experiment was
projected and effects of nitrogen (N), potassium (K),
magnesium (Mg) and micronutrients (Zn and Cu) fertilizers
was studied on yield and quality of tea. The trial conducted
by using factorial split-plot design, with three factors in
three replications in RCBD. Nitrogen and potassium
fertilizers were both distributed in two levels in a
factorial form in main plots and Mg and micronutrients were
distributed in subplots with four levels. This experiment
included ten times plucking. The total yield of each plot
obtained from the sum of ten harvests. The percentage of
tannin, water extracts and caffeine percentage was measured
for qualitative assessment. Therefore, amount of tea leave
nutrients (included N, P, K, Mg, Zn and Cu) were measured.
Micronutrient applications, especially treatment of
magnesium sulphate + zinc sulphate indicated significant
effect (p<0.01) on the yield. Urea application had
significant effect (P<0.05) on tannin and water extract
percentage. Interaction of nitrogen, potassium and
micronutrient effect was significant on caffeine percentage
(p<0.01). Nitrogen fertilizer showed significant effect on
the percentage of tannin and water extract (p<5%).
Micronutrient applications indicated significant effect on
percentage of P, Zn and Cu. Combination of N+K +
micronutrients was significant on the caffeine percentage
(p<0.01).
Key words:
Tea, fertilizers, micronutrients, yield. |
