Effect of Different Levels of Phosphorus on the Growth and Yield of Tea

To evaluate the role of variable doses of phosphorus on the growth and yield of tea (Camellia sinensis L., variety, Qi-Men), the present study was projected. The experiment was conducted during 2016-17 and repeated during 2017-18 at National Tea and High-value crops Research Institute, Shinkiari. Phosphorus was applied in six variable doses @ 0, 75, 112.5, 150, 187.5 and 225 kg ha-1 as Di-Ammonium Phosphate. Nitrogen and Potassium were applied as basal doses. Nitrogen was applied in the form of Urea @ 225 kg ha-1 while Potassium was applied as Sulphate of Potash @ 75 kg K2O/ha. The full dose of phosphorus and Potassium was applied as basal dose while Nitrogen was applied in three split doses during March, July, September 2017& 2018. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with 3 replications and six treatments. Plot size was kept as 2 rows 5 meter length and 1.2 meter width. Soil samples were collected before application of fertilizers for physico-chemical characteristics. All agronomic practices were kept uniform and plucking was done manually by keeping four leaves and a bud as standard. Results showed that the application of phosphorus significantly increased plant height, No .of leaves/plant, Leaf Length, No. of branches /plant. Tea was plucked 11 times each year and the total yield of each plot was obtained from the total harvest during 2016-17 & 2017-18. Maximum No. of branches/plant (9, 8), Plant Height (57, 55 cm), No. of Leaves (40, 41) and Leaf Length (17, 17 cm), Fresh leaves yield (5306, 3353 kg/ha), Made tea (1061, 671 Kg/ha) was obtained in treatment T3 respectively when NPK was applied @ 225-150-175 while minimum Plant height (46, 40 cm), No. of leaves/plant (31, 29) Leaf length (12, 11 cm) and No. of branches (6, 5), Fresh leaves yield (3419, 2292 kg/ha), Made tea yield (684, 458 kg/ha) was obtained in control plot (without any fertilizer) during both the years respectively. It was concluded that: 1. Phosphorus may be applied @ 225 kg ha-1 with combination of basal doses of nitrogen @ 245 kg/ha in three split doses and Potassium @ 75 kg K2O/ha to obtain maximum possible yield of tea. 2. Further experiments on different combination of Phosphorus and other major elements like N and K are required for confirmation of results.