Effects of ferrous sulfate with sulfuric acid on tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntz) soil environment

Abstract

In brown tea soil, the effects of ferrous sulfate with sulfuric acid on soil environment and tea plant (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntz) growth were examined by enzyme activity, microbe quantity, nutrients in rhizosphere soil, and the nutrients and dry matter weight in the tea plant. We found that the pH value in the brown soil was significantly decreased by ferrous sulfate with sulfuric acid treatments, compared with the value in unfertilized control (CK) or sulfuric acid treatments. The acid phosphatase activities of 3 g kg-1 ferrous sulfate with 0.05 mL L-1 sulfuric acid were increased by 210.53%. Interestingly, the quantities of fungi were increased by 19.76% and the bacteria and actinomyces were decreased in the CK treatment. Specifically, the nitrogen and magnesium in rhizosphere soil and leaves were significantly increased by the low concentrations of ferrous sulfate with 0.05 mL L-1 sulfuric acid, whereas the dry matter weight under 3 g kg-1 ferrous sulfate with 0.05 mL L-1 sulfuric acid was increased by 36.22% in the CK treatment. Thus, we concluded that ferrous sulfate with sulfuric acid affected not only the soil environment but also the growth of tea plants. Our results suggested that the concentration of ferrous sulfate at 3 g kg-1 soil diluted in 0.05 mL L-1 sulfuric acid could be considered a good soil conditioner to make a suitable soil environment for tea production. © 2013 Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition.