Organic farming in the improvement of soil health and productivity of tea cultivation: A pilot study

• DOI: 10.1002/tqem.22193
• Publication Date: 2024-01-31T05:06:46Z
• Authors: Debapriya Maitra; Bedaprana Roy; Debdatta Das; Archisman Chakrab...; Anirban Das; Indranath Chaudhuri; Sudeshna Shyam Ch...; Arup Kumar Mitra
• Keywords: Biofertilizer

Abstract The sub‐mountainous tea gardens of the Dooars region West Bengal, which contribute approximately 25% national yield, are constantly fighting with diminishing soil fertility. Inorganic alternatives like chemical fertilizers can provide easier yet short‐term solutions, as their prolonged and indiscriminate usage leaches soil, devouring its productivity, increasing soil's heavy metal contents, subsequently accumulating those metals in leaves. A plausible substitution this scenario could be use organic composting or biofertilizer. Although references to such alternative means found literature, a holistic approach targeting plant growth promotion along mitigating toxicity is lacking. Keeping background mind, pilot study was designed optimize dosage novel biofertilizers (using resident alien flora) that reduce loads residual thereby improving overall health production. Two potential metallophilic growth‐promoting strains Bacillus sp. (previously reported) were selected applied potted plants two different varieties tea: TV9 TV25. Among modes treatment tested: solid (compost amended bacterial culture) liquid (cell pellets mixed water suspension), suspension‐based direct application bacteria showed highest physiological reduced toxicity. Based on data physico‐chemical collected, it observed better results both improvement comparison regular compost beneficial microflora. Therefore, small‐scale aimed mode for improved health.