Determination of Physical, Chemical and Fertility Properties of Soils Used for Tea Cultivation in East Part of the Çataklı River Basin

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine physical, chemical and nutritional status of soils (Camellia sinensis L.) in east side of Çataklı River Basin, in which tea (Camellia sinensis L.) has been cultivated. A total of 32 soil sample were collected from 16 locations including both surface (0-30 cm) and subsurface (30-60 cm) while taking slope, elevation and physiographic units into consideration. 16 different soil parameters; texture, pH, EC, lime, organic material, Na, K, Ca, Mg, N, P, K, Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn were analyzed and descriptive statistical properties were calculated. According to the results, sand, clay, and silty content of the surface soil were determined as 28.40-77.68%, 7.60-46.88% and 14.72-34.72%, respectively, whereas sand, clay, and silty content of subsurface soil were found as 41.12 -81.12%, 6.88-40.88% and 12-34% in study area. In addition, dominant texture of the surface and subsurface study area soils were determined as sandy loam. pH values of surface soil were between 3.76 and 5.63 while, subsurface soils were between 3.70 and 6.62. Organic matter content of the surface soils were between 0.61% and 3.01%, while subsurface soils were between 0.48% and 4.24%. Although nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents, which are called macro nutrients of soils, are generally inadequate, there is no problem in the micronutrients, copper and iron, while zinc and manganese contents are found inadequate.

Keywords

• Tea plant
• soil properties
• Çataklı Basin