Assessment of yield, economics and soil health in organic cultivation of tea under Palam valley of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted during pre-monsoon (summer), monsoon (kharif) and post- monsoon season of 2021–22 at the experimental farm of Department Tea Husbandry & Technology, CSK HPKV, Palampur (H.P.) to study effect of different organic nutrient sources on soil health and tea yield [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze]. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with ten treatments and three replications. Among the organic treatments, application of different nitrogen sources viz. farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost, Jeevamrit and Vermiwash The experimental soil was acidic in reaction, silty clay loam in texture and low on N while it medium to P and K. A statistical analysis of the results revealed that incorporation vermicompost @10 t/ha + Jeevamrit @10% significantly increased available nitrogen, microbial count and microbial biomass carbon. Moreover, vermicompost applied @ 10 t/ha (split dosed) of which half was supplemented with added to P and K produced a significantly highest available phosphorus and potassium content at a depth of 0 - 22.5 cm by the end of the experiment compared to the control. Application of vermicompost @ 10 t/ha + Jeevamrit @10% increased the growth, yield attributes and tea yield. This treatment also resulted in significantly higher gross returns and net returns compared to the control.