Effects of soil pH on the uptake of Al, F and other elements by tea plants

Abstract

Soil extractable Al, F and Zn concentrations decreased whereas extractable Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Na and P concentrations increased when the soil pH was raised from 3 to 6. These trends led to a decrease in growth of tea seedlings as determined by measurements of relative dry weight gain (RDW), relative leaf number gain (RLN) and relative leaf area gain (RLA). Tea seedlings of both`large-leafed' and`small-leafed' varieties grown in soils at pH 3 and 3.5 were the tallest and healthiest, while those at pH 6 died after 3 months. The large-leafed variety showed higher growth rates than the small-leafed variety. The highest (p < 0.05) amounts of Al and F, 4225 and 430 mg kg À1 respectively, were found in seedlings under pH 3.5 treatment. When Al and F concentrations in seedlings increased, elements such as Ca, Mg, Na and Zn gently decreased (p < 0.05) whereas P increased. K and Cu were not affected. The results indicated that soil pH values higher than 4 reduced Al and F concentrations in tea plants.

Effect of Low pH on the Growth, Physiological Characteristics and Nutrient Absorption of Sago Palm in a Hydroponic System

“…The Al 3+ concentration in plant tissues tended to be higher in the root than in the leaflet and petiole, and the difference between the root and top parts, petiole and leaflets, was significant at both pH 4.5 and 3.6. A similar tendency was found in tea plants, in which the concentration of Al 3+ in the root was higher than that in the shoot or leaves, especially in the large-leaf variety that grows in low pH soil (Fung and Wong, 2001). However, there was no significant difference in the Al 3+ concentration in any of the plant parts among the three pHs.…”

“…On the other hand, the Mg 2+ concentration was higher in the root and petiole than in the leaflet (Table 4). There are several reports concerned with the effect of low pH on nutrient uptake in rice (Thawornwong and Diest, 1974), wheat, barley, chili, cowpea (Malkanthi et al, 1995), and tea plants (Fung and Wong, 2001). In these plant species, the Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ concentrations in the top parts decreased under strong acid conditions (pH lower than 4.0).…”

Assessment of Cr, Cu, Ni, Cd, and Ca in an Aromatic Beverage of Cured Leaves of the Tea Plant, Camellia sinensis

“…The contamination of tea leaves by heavy metals may pose a serious threat to human, because they are not biodegradable and remain in environment and pass to food chain. Fung, et al 2001). Metal determination in tea, wheat, and wheat flour using diluted nitric Acid, high-efficiency nebulizer, and axially viewed ICP OES aiso carried out by Martin, et al (2015).…”

Analytical Problems with the Evaluation of Human Exposure to Fluorides from Tea Products

“…The optimum range of soil pH for tea plants is 5-5.6. Lower pH facilitates the accumulation of fluorides (Fung and Wong 2002). The content of fluorides in tea products increases with maturity of leaves.…”