Sci Rep. 2025 Aug 11;15(1):29372. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-04561-9.
ABSTRACT
Intensive mono-cropping and abiotic stresses in the tea (Camellia sinensis L.) growing areas caused soil nutrient degradation and low crop productivity. Site-specific management requires understanding the mechanism of the geographical setting and its variability that plays a pivotal role in the growth and quality of tea crops. The present study targeted the tea-growing soils of India to determine their nutrient status as well as profile mineralogical composition to establish soil and land use management strategies for the region. Collected surface soil samples were analyzed for soil parameters. Soil profile sampling was done for clay mineral characterization of the area by using X-ray diffraction method. The Geo-statistical approach was used in this study-A method for analyzing geographical distribution and variability that is evolved from classical statistics. Study revealed that soil reaction was acidic to normal (3.95-6.80); non-saline (0.05-0.47 dS m-1) and soil organic carbon (SOC) range was low to medium (0.06-0.62%). Macronutrients, available nitrogen (N) status was low (62.5-237 kg ha-1), whereas available phosphorus (P) (3.0-59 kg ha-1) and potassium (K) (100-403 kg ha-1) levels were low to high. Micronutrients, iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) was deficient to sufficient, whereas, zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) were sufficient in range. Descriptive statistics and geostatistical methods of the analysis revealed that soil pH, electrical conductivity (ECe), SOC, available K, Fe and Mn were strongly spatial dependent, whereas N, Zn, and Cu, were moderately spatial dependent, caused by both random factors as well as structural factors (soil texture, soil type, fertilization, and local ecological restoration management). Clay mineralogical characterization of soil profile (surface and subsurface) revealed the dominance of illite clay minerals followed by kaolinite and smectite and less concentration of chlorite and quartz showing greater forms of K presence in the soils. Therefore, the recommendation is that, application of balance fertilizers with combination of inorganic (macro and micronutrients) and organic sources of nutrients might be beneficial for sustainable tea production in this region. It will ultimately improve soil fertility, enhance tea yield and support the socio-economic well-being of tea growers.
PMID:40790121 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-04561-9
