EFFECTS OF MICRONUTRIENTS ON THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CLONAL TEA REPLANTED IN AREAS WHERE OLD TEA WAS UPROOTED

Abstract

Deficiency of micronutrients results in many anatomical, biochemical and physiological changes in plants. The aim of this project is to investigate the effects of micronutrients on the nutritional status of clonal tea replanted in areas where old tea was uprooted. Recently deficiency of micronutrients in some tea sections has been reported which was corrected by foliar application. The objectives of this study are; to find out whether soil application of micronutrients would improve the nutrition status of old tea lands, to find out whether soil application of micronutrients would improve the uptake of nutrients by tea replanted and to find out whether soil application of micronutrients would improve the yields of clones replanted on old tea lands. Leaf and soil samples were selected randomly and analysed for micronutrients to determine the concentration in parts per million using Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission (ICPE) machine. The soil pH was determined using the pH meter. Data entry and data cleaning was done using Microsoft Excel. Data analysis was done using MSTATC software, (Michigan International state university).From the research carried out, it was clear that, clone TRFK 303/577 produced the highest yield, clone S15/10, 31/8 and 12/28 respectively. Clone TRFK 303/577 was the leading since it recorded a high uptake of the major elements (Ca, Mg, P and K) and also recorded the highest uptake in the sub treatments and the trace elements; (Zn, B, Mo, Fe and Cu) as observed in table 3.4 below. Clone 31/8 was the second best in the uptake of trace elements and major elements while it was the third in the yield after clone S15/10.Mo as a sub treatment recorded a higher uptake of most trace elements while a combination of Zn+Mo+B gave a higher uptake of major elements. The nutrition status was balanced since antagonism of the elements was observed.