Tea plants (Camellia sinensis) are acid-loving crops that thrive in soils with a pH range between 4.5 and 5.5. If the soil pH rises above 5.8, tea plants suffer from severe iron and manganese chlorosis, limiting leaf growth and quality.
Micronutrient Demands in Tea Production
High-quality tea production requires constant leaf plucking, which continuously depletes soil nutrients. In addition to nitrogen, tea requires high concentrations of zinc and manganese to support leaf emergence and synthesize quality tea compounds like polyphenols.
“Agronomic studies demonstrate that balanced foliar applications of chelated zinc and manganese increase harvestable tea flush weights by up to 15%.”
Core Nutrition Plan for Acid Soils
- Soil pH Regulation: Keep pH below 5.5. Use sulphur fertilizers to lower pH if needed.
- Chelated Zinc: Apply foliarly to promote shoot elongation and leaf surface expansion.
- Manganese Nutrition: Crucial for photosynthesis and root respiration in dense plantations.