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Fertility Assessment and Risk Management in Tea Plantations: Role of P-Promoted Metals’ Availability

Author

Listed:
  • Ziwen Luo

    (Institute of Tea, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650205, China)

  • Yongwang Ju

    (Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plateau Wetland Conservation, Restoration and Ecological Services, Institute of Ecology and Environment (College of Wetlands), Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China)

  • Linbo Chen

    (Institute of Tea, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650205, China)

  • Xiangde Yang

    (Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310008, China)

  • Yaqin Long

    (Institute of Tea, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650205, China)

  • Xue Liu

    (Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plateau Wetland Conservation, Restoration and Ecological Services, Institute of Ecology and Environment (College of Wetlands), Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China)

Abstract

Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are important fertilizers frequently applied to soils to ensure agricultural production. However, how an excess of N, P and K affects metals’ geochemical availability, and thereby soil fertility, is poorly under-stood in the tea agro-system. Instead of using the total concentration, this study evaluated soil fertility based on the available concentration of fertilizers (N, P, and K), macro elements (Ca, Mg, Fe, and Mn), and trace elements (Cu and Zn) on tea plantations in the eight main tea-producing regions of Puerh, Yunnan Province, Southwest China. In addition, the correlations of fertilizer, soil pH, and metals’ availability, as well as their effect on soil fertility, were clarified. The results showed that tea-growing soils were acidified (pH = 3.83–5.5; n = 323). Soil pH (98.7%), available Fe (100%), Ca (98.5%), Cu (97.2%), and Zn (86.4%) were within suitable ranges for tea tree growth, while N (97%), Mg (84%), and P (86.1%) should be enhanced. The overall fertility (IFI = 0.47–0.89) was distributed in levels I–III, with Jiangcheng showing the highest IFI at level I. This was attributed to the highly available concentration of metals induced by low pH (3.83–4.99). In terms of the driven factor, available P and K posed greater effects than available N in mediating the availability of metals (R = 0.14–0.28 and 0.27–0.75; p < 0.01 or p < 0.05) by decreasing soil pH (R = −0.17 and −0.17; p < 0.01) in the studied tea plantations. This study indicates that more attention should be paid to P and K during fertilization management for tea plantations.

Suggested Citation

  • Ziwen Luo & Yongwang Ju & Linbo Chen & Xiangde Yang & Yaqin Long & Xue Liu, 2025. "Fertility Assessment and Risk Management in Tea Plantations: Role of P-Promoted Metals’ Availability," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-14, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:9:p:953-:d:1644208
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chunlian Qiao & Shamim Mia & Yeqin Wang & Jiajia Hou & Burenbayin Xu, 2021. "Assessing the Effects of Nitrification Inhibitor DMPP on Acidification and Inorganic N Leaching Loss from Tea ( Camellia sinensis L.) Cultivated Soils with Increasing Urea–N Rates," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-8, January.
    2. Ranjan Laik & Santosh Kumar Singh & Biswajit Pramanick & Vandana Kumari & Debabrata Nath & Eldessoky S. Dessoky & Attia O. Attia & Mohamed M. Hassan & Akbar Hossain, 2021. "Improved Method of Boron Fertilization in Rice ( Oryza sativa L.)–Mustard ( Brassica juncea L.) Cropping System in Upland Calcareous Soils," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-12, April.
    3. Jian Zhang & Ruidong Yang & Rong Chen & Yishu Peng & Xuefeng Wen & Lei Gao, 2018. "Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Tea Leaves and Potential Health Risk Assessment: A Case Study from Puan County, Guizhou Province, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-22, January.
    4. Fuxin Ye & Ziwen Luo & Yongwang Ju & Qin Huan & Xue Liu, 2025. "Roles of N and P in Soil Acidification, Metals Mobilization and Bioavailable Concentration-Based Soil Fertility Assessment in Tea Plantations in Yunnan, China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-14, March.
    5. Yanling Liu & Meng Zhang & Yu Li & Yarong Zhang & Xingcheng Huang & Yehua Yang & Huaqing Zhu & Han Xiong & Taiming Jiang, 2023. "Influence of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application on Soil Acidification Characteristics of Tea Plantations in Karst Areas of Southwest China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-14, April.
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