Agricultural Reviews

  • Chief EditorPradeep K. Sharma

  • Print ISSN 0253-1496

  • Online ISSN 0976-0741

  • NAAS Rating 4.84

Frequency :
Quarterly (March, June, September & December)
Indexing Services :
AGRICOLA, Google Scholar, CrossRef, CAB Abstracting Journals, Chemical Abstracts, Indian Science Abstracts, EBSCO Indexing Services, Index Copernicus
Submit

Research Article

Agricultural Reviews, volume 39 issue 1 (march 2018) : 40-47

Potassium in tea (Camellia sinensis (L) O. Kuntze) cultivation from soil to cup quality - A review

Anil Kumar Singh, Sunil Kumar Pathak
1Advisory Department, Tocklai Tea Research Institute, Tea Research Association, Jorhat-785 008, Assam, India.
Cite article:- Singh Kumar Anil, Pathak Kumar Sunil (2018). Potassium in tea (Camellia sinensis (L) O. Kuntze) cultivation from soil to cup quality - A review. Agricultural Reviews. 39(1): 40-47. doi: 10.18805/ag.R-1731.

ABSTRACT

Tea (Camellia sinensis (L) O. Kuntze) plants require comparatively higher quantity of potassium for production and quality of produce. After nitrogen, potassium is the second major nutrient for tea plant. Potassium plays vital role in enzyme activation, water relation, photosynthesis protein and starch synthesis. It offers abiotic as well as biotic stress toleration in tea plants and also improves biochemical parameters and organoleptic quality of tea. However, owing to the climatic conditions and soil mineralogical compositions, tea soils are predominantly poor in their potash content. Thus, the need based adequate supply of potash through inorganic or organic sources as soil application or foliar nutrition in tea growing soils of India is essential to realize the optimum economic yield with desired quality. Furthermore, the possibilities of development of potassium solubilizing biofertilizer with identification of native strains of microbes and development of potassium efficient tea genotype need to be explored. Such attempts minimize the cost of cultivation, sustain soil fertility and prevent environmental pollution.     

REFERENCES

  1. Aggarwal, R. A. (1985). Role of potash and other salts in plants in insect population and damage. Potash Research Institute India, Res. Rev. Series, 3:13-22.
  2. Ali, M. M., Choudhury, S. H. and Mannan, M. A. (1977). Effect of potassic fertilizer on yield of tea. Tea J. Bangladesh 13 (1):10-17. 
  3. Andrews, E. A. (1923). Factors Affecting the Control of the Tea Mosquito Bug (Helopeltis theivora, Waterh.) Worrall and Robey, London. pp 260.
  4. Annadurai, K., Palaniappan, P., Masilamani, P. and Kavimani, R. (2000). Split application of potassium on rice - A review. Agric. Rev., 21:36-44.
  5. Anonymous, (1982-83). Tocklai Experimental Station, Annual Scientific Report, pp 25-26.
  6. Anonymous, (1983-84). Tocklai Experimental Station, Annual Scientific Report, pp 40 and 14.
  7. Anonymous, (1985-86). Soils and Meteorology. Tocklai Experimental Station, Annual Scientific Report, 31-40.
  8. Anonymous, (2011). Tea Soil of North East India-Two Leaf & A Bud-100 Years of Research. Tocklai Centenary Publication.
  9. Archana, D. S., Nandish, M. S., Savalagi, V. P. and Alagawadi, A. R. (2012). Screening of potassium solubilizing bacteria (KSB) for plant growth promotional activity. Bioinfolet., 9(4):627-30.
  10. Bagyalakshmi, B., Ponmurugan, P. and Balamurugan, A. (2013). Impact of different temperature, carbon and nitrogen sources on solubilization efficiency of native potassium solubilizing bacteria from tea (Camellia sinensis). J. Biosci. Res., 4(2):39-45.
  11. Barman, T. S., Baruah, U. and Saikia, J. K. (2011). Effect of potassium as antitranspirant on tea (Camellia sinensis L.) under drought. Two Bud, 58:70-73.
  12. Barman, T. S., Bhattacharya, Baruah, U. and Saikia, J. K. (2005). Water stress induced alteration of compatible osmolytes (Proline and Wax) in Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) cultivars. In: “Proceeding of International Symposium on “Innovation in tea Science and sustainable development in tea industry”, Hangzhou, China. pp 123-129.
  13. Barman, T. S., Saikia, J. and Baruah, U. (2003). Foliar application of potash on starch reserve in tea. Two Bud, 50:39-41.
  14. Barre, P., Montagnier, C., Chenu, C., Abbadie, L. and Velde, B. (2008). Clay minerals as a soil potassium reservoir: observation and quantification through X-ray diffraction. Plant Soil, 302:213–20
  15. Baruah, A., Phukan, I. K. and Bhagat, R. M. (2011). Comparision of soil and leaf nutrient status under organic and conventional tea. Two Bud, 58:155-159
  16. Basak, B. B. and Biswas, D. R. (2009). Influence of potassium solubilizing microorganism (Bacillus mucilaginosus) and waste mica on potassium uptake dynamics by sudan grass (Sorghum vulgare Pers.) grown under two Alfisols. Plant Soil, 317:235–255.
  17. Basak, B. B. and Biswas, D. R. (2012). Modification of waste mica for alternative source of potassium: evaluation of potassium release in soil from waste mica treated with potassium solubilizing bacteria (KSB). Germany: Lambert Academic Publishing; ISBN 978-3-659-29842-4.
  18. Basumatry, A. and Bordoloi, P. K. (1992). Forms of potassium in some soils of Assam in relation to soil properties. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 40: 370-374. 
  19. Biswas, A. K. and Chakravartee, J. (1992). In: “31st Conference Challenge of the nineties”, at Tocklai Tea Research Association, Jorhat, Assam, India.
  20. Bosecker, K. (1997). Bioleaching: metal solubilization by microorganisms. FEMS Microbiol. Rev., 20:591-604.
  21. Cakmak, I. (2005). The role of potassium in alleviating detrimental effects of abiotic stresses in plants. J. Plant Nutri. Soil Sci., 168:521-530.
  22. Carpenter, P. H. and Harler, C. R. (1921b). The action of potash salts on acid soils of Assam. Ibid Journal Part 2: 43-63.
  23. Cooper, H. R. (1924a). Phosphoric acid and potash. Ibid Journal Part 4: 227-238.
  24. Dev Choudhury, M. N., Thakur. K. C., Goswami. M. R. and Ravindranath, S. D. (1983). Amides in tea. Two Bud 30: 7-9. 
  25. Dey, S. K. (1971). Potash as a limiting factor. Two Bud 18 (2): 34-47. 
  26. Eden, T. (1976). Tea. 3rd edn. Longman, London.
  27. Gnanapragasam, N. C. (1982). Effect of potassium fertilization and of soil temperature on the incidence and pathogenicity of the root- lesion nematode, Pratylenchus loosi Loof, on tea (Camellia sinensis L.) Tea Q., 51 (4):169-174. 
  28. Godziashvili, B. A. and Peterburgsky, A. V. (1986). Potassium and magnesium nutrition of tea on the red soil of Georgia. Potash Rev. Subject 27, 114th suite pp 1-6.
  29. Goldstein, A. H. (1994). Involvement of the quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase in the solubilization of exogenous mineral phosphates by gram-negative bacteria. In: “Phosphate in microorganisms: Cellular and molecular biology”, (Ed.): Torriani-Gorni, A., Yagil, E. and Silver, S. Washington: ASM Press; ISBN 1555810802 pp 197-203.
  30. Goulding, K. W. T. and Loveland, P. J. (1986). The classification and mapping of potassium reserves in soils of England and Wales. J. Soil Sci., 37:555–65.
  31. Hadfield, W. (1968). Leaf temperature, leaf pose and productivity of the tea bush. Nature 219:282-284.
  32. Handique, A. C. and Manivel, L. (1990). Effect of certain antitranspirant in tea (Camellia sinensis L). Two Bud, 37:20-3.
  33. Havlin, J. L., Beaton, J. D., Tisdale, S. L. and Nelson, W. L. (2003). Soil fertility and Fertilizers. An Introductory to Nutrient Management 6th edn. Pearson Education India Branch, Delhi. 
  34. Imas, P. (2013). Potassium the quality element in crop production. International Potash Institute, ISBN 978-3-905887-07-5.
  35. Jessy, M. D. (2010). Potassium management in plantation crops with special reference to tea, coffee and rubber. Karnataka J. Agric. Sci., 24 (1):67-74.
  36. Kafkafi, U. (1990). The functions of plant K in overcoming environmental stress situations. In: “Development of K-fertilizer recommendations: proceedings 22nd Colloquium of the International Potash Institute”, pp 81-93.
  37. Krishnapillai, S. and Ediriweera, V. L. (1986). Influence of levels nitrogen and potassium fertilizers on chlorophyll content in mature clonal tea leaves. Sri Lanka J. Tea Sci., 55 (2):71-76.
  38. Kumar, R. R. and Kumar, M. (2010). Reappraisal of N K foliar nutrition in tea. Planter’s Chron., 106 (2): 6-14.
  39. Lian, B., Fu, P. Q., Mo, D. M. and Liu, C. Q. (2002). A comprehensive review of the mechanism of potassium release by silicate bacteria. Acta Min. Sinica 22:179.
  40. Malenga, N. E. A. (1986 b). Responses to increased levels of potassium fertilizer on mature Indian seedling tea in Mulanje Malavi. Q. News L, Tea Res. Found Central Afr. (83): 4-8.
  41. Meena, V. S., Maurya, B. R. and Verma, J. P. (2014). Does a rhizospheric microorganism enhance K+ availability in agricultural soils?. Microbiol Res. 169: 337–347. 
  42. Mengel, K. and Kirkby, E. A. (1987). Principles of Plant Nutrition. 4th edn. Bern: International Potash Institute.
  43. Muraleedharan, N. (1985). Entomology, 59th Annual Report of the United Planters’ Association of South India. Tea Scientific Department.
  44. Natesan, S., Subrahmanya, Bhat, S. and Ranganathan, V. (1984 b). Agronomic and cultural factors interacting with potassium manuring in tea. In: “Proceedings of the 5th Annual Symposium on Plantation Crops”, pp 358-374. PLACROSYM Standing Committee, Indian Society of Plantation Crops, Kasaragod, Kerala, India.
  45. Owuor, P. O. (1992). Comparison of gas chromatographic volatile profiling methods for assessing the flavour quality of Kenyan black teas. J. Sci. Food Agric., 59:189-197.
  46. Owuor, P. O. and Odhiambo, H. O. (1994). Response of some black tea quality parameters to nitrogen fertilizer rates and plucking frequencies. J. Sci. Food Agric. 66:555-561. 
  47. Pal, D. K., Srivastava, P., Durge, S. L. and Bhattacharyya, T. (2001). Role of weathering of fine-grained micas in potassium management of Indian soils. Appl. Clay Sci. 20:39-52.
  48. Patil, A. J., Kale, S. P. and Shingte, A. K. (1976). Effect of alternate wetting and drying on fixation of potassium. Bulletin Indian Soc. Soil Sci. 10: 132-137.
  49. Rahman, A., Roy. S., Muraleedharan, N. and Phukan, A. K. (2014). Effects of potassium chloride and potassium sulphate on the efficacy of insecticides against infestation by Helopeltis theivora (Heteroptera: Miridae) in tea plantations. International J. Trop. Insec. Sci. 34 (3): 217-221.
  50. Rahman, F. and Jain, N. K. (1985). Long term response of light leaf Assam tea to phosphate and potash application in Northeast India. J. Planta Crops, 13 (2):104-115. 
  51. Rahman, F., Sharma, P. B. and Nandi, N. C. (1978). Suitability of muriate potash (KCL) and sulphate potash (K2SO4) for foliar spray in young and mature tea. Two Bud 25 (2):97-98. 
  52. Rai, S. K. and Mukhopadhyay, D. (2012). A study on physico-chemical properties of soils under different tea growing regions of West Bengal (India). International J. Agric. Sci. 4(8): 325-329.
  53. Rajawat, M. V. S., Singh, S., Singh, G. and Saxena, A. K. (2012). Isolation and characterization of K solubilizing bacteria isolated from different rhizospheric soil. In: “Proceeding of 53rd Annual Conference of Association of Microbiologists of India”, pp 124.
  54. Ranganathan, V. (1970a). Potassium, a master nutrient for tea. Bulletin Uni. Planters’ Associ. South India. Tea Science Department 28: 13-19.
  55. Ranganathan, V. (1982). Potassium in tea culture in south India - a review. Indian Potash J., 7(3): 2-9.
  56. Ranganathan, V. and Narayanan, B. (1974). Potassium behaviour in tea soils and its practical utility. Bulletin Uni. Planters’ Associ. South India. Tea Science Department 31: 43-53.
  57. Ranganathan, V. and Natesan, S. (1983). Manuring of tea - revised recommendations 1982 pp 20. Addition to Handbook of tea culture. United Planter’s Association of Southern India, Tea Research Institute, Scientific Department.
  58. Ranganathan, V. and Natesan, S. (1985). Nutrition of tea. In: “Proc. Internatinal Symp. Potassium in Agric”, ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Madison,Wisconsin, USA pp 981-1022.
  59. Ranganathan, V. and Natesan, S. (1985). Potassium nutrition of tea, In: “Potassium in Agriculture” Ed: R.D. Munson), Am. Soc. Agron., Crop Sci. Soc. Am., Soil Sci. Soc. Am., Madison, Wisconsin, USA, pp 981-1021.
  60. Ranganathan, V. Natesan, S. and Palani, N. (1988). Response of tea to potassium application in the pruned year and effect of manuring on yield trend. Planters’ Chron., 83 (2): 373-378. 
  61. Rengel, Z. and Damon, P. M. (2008). Crops and genotypes differ in efficiency of potassium uptake and use. Physiol. Plant, 133:624-36.
  62. Reynolds, M., Bonnett, D., Chapman, S. C., Furbank, R. T., Manes, Y., Mather, D. E. et al., (2011). Raising yield potential of wheat. I. Overview of a consortium approach and breeding strategies. J. Exp. Bot., 62:439–52.
  63. Ruan, J., Wu, X. and Hardter, R. (1999). Effects of potassium and magnesium nutrition on the quality components of different types of tea. J. Sci. Food Agric., 79:47-52.
  64. Ruan, J., Wu, X., Ye, Y. and Hardter, R. (1998). Effect of potassium, magnesium and sulphur applied in different forms of fertilisers on free amino acid content in leaves of tea (Camellia sinensis L). J. Sci. Food Agric., 76:389-396.
  65. Saha, R. (2004). Soil fertility map of tea estates of Darjeeling hills. Darjeeling Tea Research and Development Centre, Tea Board, India.
  66. Saikia, D. N. and Dey, S. K. (1984). Leaf water potential and stomatal resistance of tea leaf as influence by soil moisture and potash application. Indian J. Agric. Sci., 54:727-32.
  67. Sheng, XF., He, L. Y. and Huang, W. Y. (2002). The conditions of releasing potassium by a silicate dissolving bacterial strain NBT. Agric. Sci. China, 1:662-666.
  68. Singh, A. K., Bisen, J. S., Bora, D. K., Kumar, R. and Bera, B. (2011). Comparative study of organic, inorganic and integrated plant nutrient supply on the yield of Darjeeling tea and soil health. Two Bud, 58: 58-61.
  69. Singh, A. K., Chauhan, R. K. and Bisen, J. S. (2014). Role of soil organic matter in soil health sustainability. International. J. Agric. Sci., 5 (2): 219-227.
  70. Singh, B. and Goulding, K. W. T. (1997). Changes with time in the potassium content and phyllosilicates in the soil of the Broad balk continuous wheat experiment at Rothamsted. Eur. J. Soil Sci., 48:651-659.
  71. Singh, I. D. and Misra, T. K. (2009). Soil health management and environmental responsibility in small tea cultivation. Planters’ Chron., 105 (6):12-21.
  72. Subba, Rao, A. and Brar, M. S. (2002). Potassium. In: “Fundamentals of Soil Science”, Published by Indian Soc. Soil Sci., pp 369-380.
  73. Subba, Rao, A. and Rao, S. (1996). Potassium status and crop response to potassium on the soils of agro-ecological region of India. IPI Research Topics No.20 International Potash Institute, Basel, Switzerland, pp 1-57. 
  74. Troufflard, S., Mullen, W., Larson, T. R., Graham, I. A. and Crozier, A. et. al. (2010). Potassium deficiency induces the biosynthesis of oxylipins and glucosinolates in Arabidopsis thaliana. BMC Plant Biol. 10:172. 
  75. Venkatesan, S., Murugesan, S., Senthurpandian, V. K. and Ganapathy, M. N. K. (2005). Impact of sources and doses of potassium on biochemical and green leaf parameters of tea. Food Chem., 90:535-539. 
  76. Venkatesan, S. and Ganapathy, M. N. K. (2004). Impact of nitrogen and potassium fertiliser application on quality of CTC teas. Food Chem., 84:325-328. 
  77. Venkatesan, S. and Murugesan, S. (2006). Influence of tea cultivation on soil characteristics with special reference to potassium. International J. Soil Sci., 1(1): 58-63. 
  78. Venkatesan, S., Murugesan, S., Ganapathy, M. N. K. and Verma, D. P. (2004). Long-term impact of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers on yield, soil nutrients and biochemical parameters of tea. J. Sci. Food Agric., 84:1939-1944. 
  79. Venkatesan, S. and Senthurpandian, V. K. (2006). Potassium and phosphorus releasing capacity of latosols under tea cultivation in south India. International J. Soil Sci., 1 (3): 227-234.
  80. Venkatesan, S., Senthurpandian, V. K., Murugesan, S., Maibuam, W. and Ganapathy M. N. K. (2006). Quality standards of CTC black teas as influenced by sources of potassium fertiliser. J. Sci. Food Agric., 86:799-803. 
  81. Verma, D. P. (1997). Balanced fertilization for sustainable productivity of tea. Fert. News 42(4): 113-125.
  82. Verma, D. P. (1999). Manuring of tea. In: “Global Advances in Tea Science 1st edn”, [(Ed.): Jain, N. K.] Aravali Printers and Publishers, New Delhi. pp 533-554.
  83. Verma, D. P. and Pund, S. A. (2014). Potassium - The Key Nutrient for Tea Grown in Latosols of South India: Glimpses of Seven Decades of Potassium Research. International J. Tea Sci. [S.l.]: 34-56. ISSN 0972-544X. 
  84. White, P. J., Karley, A. J. (2010). Potassium. In: “Cell Biology of Metals and Nutrients, Plant Cell Monographs, vol. 17”, [(Ed.): Hell, R., Mendel, R. R.] Springer, Berlin: pp 199-224.
  85. Wickremasinghe, R. L. and Thirugnanasuntharan, K. (1980). Biochemical approach to the control of Xyleborus fornicates (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Plant Soil, 55:9-15. 
  86. Willson, K. C. (1975b). Studies on the mineral nutrition of tea IV. Potassium. Plant Soil. 43 (2):279-293.
  87. Wu, Xun. (1995). Effect of potassium and magnesium on polyphenols in black tea. In: “K and Mg in balanced fertilization in China’s tea gardens”, [(Ed.): Wu Binghua, A.] Switzerland: International Potash Institute. pp 1-16. 
  88. Zhang, A., Zhao, G., Gao, T., Wang, W., Li, J. and Zhang, S. et. al. (2013). Solubilization of insoluble potassium and phosphate by Paenibacillus kribensis CX-7: a soil microorganism with biological control potential. Afr. J. Microbiol. Res., 7(1):41-47.
  89. Zorb, C., Senbayram, M. and Peiter, E. (2014). Potassium in Agriculture-Status and Perspectives. J. Plant Physiol. 171: 656-669. 
Reviewed By

Download Article
In this Article
    Contact us
    Follow us

    Editorial Board

    View all (0)