Chin J Plan Ecolo ›› 1994, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (3): 253-260.

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Relationship Between Soil Chemical Characteristics and Tea Quality in Tea Gardens in the Three Gorges Area of the Yangtze River

Wang Xiao-ju, Chen Hong-zhao   

  • Published:1994-03-10
  • Contact: Fu Zhi-jun

Abstract: Tea plants in the Three Gorges area mainly grow on three soil geochemical types: siallitic ferrallisols, potash-silicic ferrallisols, and siferric ferrallisols, Siallitic ferrallisols have light soil texture, high content of Si, Al, and K, and low content of Fe, Ca, and Mg; Potash-silicic ferrallisols usually have sandy-loam soil texture and high content of Si and K; and siferric ferral lisols are usually deep and clay, and containt more Si and Fe, and less P and K. Relationship between soil geochemical characteristics and tea quality is close. Sandy soil can promote the increase of amino acid in the tea, clayey soil, on the contrary, make it decrease; higher base content decreases the alkaloid caffeine, polyphenols, and water-extracted matters, but may be beneficial for the formation of amino acid. Quickly available P has significant positive correlation with water-extracted matters, but it has significant negative correlation with alkaloid caffeine. Slow-released K has significant positive correlation with amino acid. Tea plants on the siallic ferrallisols and potash-silicic ferallisols usually produce higher quality tea than that on the siferric ferrallisols. So, the former two soil types are suitable to plant tea, and the third type is unsuitable if no special improving method is employed.