EFFECT OF DIFFERENT PHOSPHORUS SOURCES ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF TEA (CAMELLIA-SINENSIS) IN A HILL ACID SOIL

A field experiment was conducted during 1983-88 to evaluate the effect of 2 sources of phosphorus on field and quality of 130-year-old China hybrid tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze]. Single superphosphate and mussoorie rockphosphate were the sources of P. Four levels of P (26.2, 52.4, 78.6 and 104.8 kg/ha) increased the yield of tea by 16.8, 10.2, 9.8 and 3.1% respectively. However, P sources showed nonsignificant effect. Graded doses of P through single superphosphate and mussoorie rockphosphate significantly increased the status of available P (3.6, 5.3, 6.8 and 9.2 kg/ha) and Ca (0.34, 0.43, 0.50 and 0.62 meq/100 g) in the soil. The P application also improved the quality of tea.