~,

ORGANIC MANURES IN TEA

D.P. Verma and S. Venkatesan*

T ea soils continue to be
degraded due to lack of
adoption of appropriate soil
TABLE 1. NUTRIENT COMPOSITION

Element Flush Foliage

(%) OF TEA PLANT

conservation measures and also
continue to be depleted due to
additions (supply) not keeping
pace with removals (demand). It
is unlikely that soil depletion will
ever cease to be a problem.
However, it is equally likely that
as per the present knowledge, if
all the available plant nutrient
sources are adequately and
efficiently utilised, nutrient
depletion can be reduced to a
considerably low level. No
single source of nutrient be it
inorganic fertiliser, organic
manure or bio fertiliser can meet
the nutrient needs required for
sustainable productivity of tea.
Integrated plant nutrient supply
system (IPNS) in which diverse
sources of plant nutrients are
made use of can do this to a large
extent. It is not wise to compare
inorganic fertiliser based farming
with organic cultivation as this
approach reveals in ignorance of
nutrient cycles in nature of which
plant growth or agricultural
systems are a part. In nature,
organic and inorganic sources
coexist and travel through the
same cycle. They only get into
*UPASI Tea Research
Foundation, Valparai -642127.
*Twig* Wood U
N 3.50-5.00 2.08-2.25 0.99-1.15 0.82-1 .05
K 1.49-2.39 1.12-1.87 0.50-0.86 0.38-0.51
Ca 0.32-0.45 0.64-0.87 0.20-0.32 0.25-0.34
P 0.24-0.32 0.12-0.15 0.05-0.08 0.02-0.03
S 0.21-0.24 0.28-0.34 0.11-0.18 0.08-0.12
0.18-0.19 0.14-0.21 0.08-0.11 0.04-0.08
Mg
*Recycled at pruning
UPartly removed as fuel at pruning
the cycle at different points. The essential. Tea being a leaf crop,
sound strategy is thus one where nitrogen content is the highest
chemical fertilisers and organic followed by potassium, calcium,
manures including bio fertilisers phosphorus, sulphur, magnesium
should be balanced or and zinc among the various
complementaryto each other. nutrients (Table - 1)
1. Basic Principles of
Manuring 2. Shade Management
The use of regulated shade in tea
Our concept of manuring is
has several advantages. Shade
based on "Replacement theory",
i.e. what is removed from the soil gives maximum benefit during
the hottest part of the year, when
by the plant during its growth is the ambient day temperature
given back to the soil, thus exceeds 30°C on most part of the
maintaining the level of these days. Shade helps to preserve
nutrients in the soil. Here, an soil organic matter status by
allowance is also given for lowering the soil temperature
fixation, leaching and gaseous during dry periods and by
losses of nutrients. To returning organic matter in the
understand nutrient removal by form of leaf litter and loppings,
tea, information on the mineral which is quite considerable. The
composition of tea plant is roots of shade tree penetrate

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ThePlanters'Chronicle March 2001
- i .
deeper into the soil and absorb
nutrients from lower strata of the
soiI beyond the reach of tea roots
and trap some of the nutrients
leached down from the top soil.
When leaves, pods and twigs of
shade trees drop on the surface
soil, the nutrient present in the
droppings, in due course,
become available to the roots.
The beneficial effect of shade is
most pronounced in the absence
of fertiliser nitrogen and
progressively decreases as the
level of nitrogen fertiliser is
raised.
In south India silver oak
(Grevillea robusta) is used as
permanent shade. It is quick
growing and the dissected leaves
facilitate filtering of light. With
deep root system and high .root
cation exchange capacity (30-35
meq %) it does not compete with
tea (16-25 meq %) for either
moisture or nutrients. It is fairly
tolerant to wind and is not'
generally susceptible for the
attack of pests and diseases. The
TABLE 2. NUTRIENTSIN TEAPRUNINGS OF MATURETEA
Jat : Clone SA-6
Drywt. Nutrient
Plant parts
(kg/ha) C N
Foliage 2708 43.09 2.11
Twig 7958 38.94 1.03
Wood 3795 42.36 0.62
Grevillea* 2500 59.20 1.54
*Leaf litter undecomposed
11&
leaf falls of Grevillea (70 trees /
ha) planted at 12.2x12.2 m add
approximately 2.5 tonnes organic
matter, 39 kg of nitrogen, 20 kg
of phosphorus and 14 kg of
potassium per ha/year (Table - 2).
In addition, while lopping (70
trees/ha) it adds approximately 5
tlha of organic matter annually
and considerable amount of
nutrients are recycled and
become available for tea plants.
In north east India Albinia
sinensis, Albizzia odoratissima,
Albizzia procera and Dalbergia
assamica are the common shade
trees. Indigofera teysmanii is
suitable as a temporary shade
both in north east and south
India. The shade tree used 'in
north east India, Albizzia sinensis
casts moderate shade (50 to 60%
light intensity). On an average,
it adds in the form of leaf, twig
and pod droppings 2500 to 5000
kg per ha of dry matter annually
with a nutrient content of 63 to
126 kg N, 18 to 36 kg P2as 22
to 44 kg K2O, 32 to 64kg CaO
and 16 to 32 kg MgO.
Pruned at 65 em
Content % Nutrientsrecycledkg/ha
C/N
P K N P
.."I
,
0.31 1.24 20.4 57.1 8.4
37.8 82.0 17.5
0.22 0.86
0.24 0.49 68.3 23.3 9.0
0.81 0.56 38.4 38.5 20.3
3. Management of
Pruning litter
Tea prunings contain consider-
able amount of nutrients, which
could be returned to the field
profitably. The amount of
nutrients returned to the soil by
retention of pruning in mature tea
are presented in Table - 2. The
foliage have narrow C:N ratio and
decompose readily yielding
considerable quantities of N, P
and K in the pruned and
subsequent years. The wood
portions have a wide C:N ratio
and decompose slowly while
twig decomposes at the moderate
rate. In the areas where the
annual rainfall is below 1500
mm, burial of pruning in
staggered trenches in alternate
rows will be useful, while in high
rainfall areas, chopping of tea
prunings and spreading them on
the soil surface is desirable.
The UPASIResearch Foundation
had carried out an experiment for
two cycles on the management
of tea prunings in the marginal
rainfallareas in the high elevation
of Nilgiris on yield and organic
matter status. An yield increase
of nine per cent and three per
K cent were recorded in plots with
the prunings buried and spread
33.6 on surface, respectively
68.4 (Table - 3). A gradual decline in
the organic matter (OM) status
18.4 was noticed in the control plots,
14.0 while burial of prunings helped
to increase the OM status of
the soiI.
The Planters' Chronicle -March 2001
-~ TABLE3. EFFECT

Treatments
OF MANAGEMENT OF PRUNINGS
(NILGIRIS)

Average yield
Kg/ha
Organic matter %
I cycle II cycle
Surfacesoil Sub-soil Surfacesoil Sub-soil
in organic matter, damage to
feeder roots and accelerates soil
erosion.

I 6.Organic manures in tea

nutrition
Prunings removed 3105 2980 4.1 2.7 3.6 2.3
The international organisation for
Burial of 3287 3248 5.4 3.6 5.9 4.0 standardisation (ISO), defines
prunings (+5.9) (+9.0) organic manure / fertiliser as
Chopping and 3234 3068 5.0 2.9 4.9 3.0 organic or carbonaceous
spreading of prunings (+ 4.1) (+ 3.0)
materials, generally of vegetable
and / or animal origin, added to
Figures in parenthesis denote % increase over control the soil specifically for nutrition
(Source: Pandiaraj, G.T.S.1991. Field practices in Corsely estate. of plants and generally containing
Joint Area Sci. Symp., Aug. 22-24, Coonoor.) nitrogen of vegetable and or
animal origin. Organic manure
5.Chemical Weed Control is a very broad term. Materials
4.Mulching
such as farmyard manure,
Mulching in young tea is a proven It is advisable to have a vegetative compost and crop residues which
cultural practice in minimising cover of the soil by retaining the are bulky and supply low
soil erosion, regulating soil shallow rooted dicot weeds like quantities of major plant nutrients
temperature, conserving Borreria ocymoides, Drymaria are termed as bulky organic
moisture, suppressing weed cordata and Oxa/is corniculata. manures. Concentrated organic
growth and enriching the soil The Nitrogen, potassi urn and manures such as oil cakes,
organic matter. It reduces the phosphorus added by these slaughter house wastes, fish meal
impact of the rain drop, prevents weeds annually are presented in and poultry manure are
undue soil compaction and Table - 4. Killing the weed .r comparatively richer in NPK.
maintains tilth of the soil. growth in situ by employing Organic manures are not
Mulching can be done with appropriate adds 5.0 to 6.6 t/ha available in quantities required
Guatemala grass (Tripsacum of. \rganic matter annually. The and the cost of manures restrict
laxum), weeping love grass manual weeding leads to decline the possibility of their large scale
(Eragrostiscurvula), bracken fern, addition in commercial tea
teaprunings, shade loppings and
TABLE4. NUTRIENT plantation. Sound cultural
other plant materials. Effective
CONTENT OF WEEDS practices would be helpful to
mulching could be achieved with
maintain or enrich the organic
15to 25 tonnes of plant materials
Weed N P K matter status of soil, reducing the
per hectare. Mulching with
Species Kg/ha excessive dependence on
Guatemala grass (200 kg/50 m2)
. inorganic fertilisers as well as in
resulted in significant increase in Drymaria '
feeder root production of mature Cordata 13 2.0 28 the efficient utilisation of applied
tea. Maintaining a live mulch by nutrients. The sources of organic
Borreria matter in tea fields are shade tree
growing Mimosa in visa and 1.8 0.2 5.0
ocymoides - litters and loppings, tea litters, tea
Stylosanthes gracilis in the place
Oxalis prunings and weeds. The annual
of dry mulch also meets the
corniculata 0.6 0.1 1.1 average additions of organic
purpose.

lIB The Planters'Chronicle -March 2001

..- TABLE 5. ORGANIC MATTER (T/HA) IN TEA FIELDS

SOURCE
Shade tree litters
500 -1500m 1500 -2000m 2000 -2500m
base up to 22.5 cm from the
ground level with no gaps after
which it may be alternated with
perforated and solid layers of
44.5 39.5 39.5 brick walls. Alternatively, a pit
and loppings
dimension 4.5 x 2.0 x 1.0 m may
Tea litters 19.8 14.8 14.8
be dug in the soil with sloping
Tea prunings 22.2 24.7 24.7 sides to faci Iitate aeration. If both
Weeds 4.9 4.9 4.9 the above options are not
Cycle Average 91.4 83.9 83.9 available, the agrowastes may be
heaped on the surface with the
Length of cycle same dimension.
(years) 4.0 5.0 6.0
Annual Average c. Composting
addition 22.9 16.8 14.0
Animal dung and agrowastes are
(Source: Ranganathanet ai, 1980. Organic matt..~rflux in south Indian applied in the tank uniformly by
tea soils a need for conservation, Planters' Chronicle. 75 (7&8) : means of rake in layers of 15.0 to
309-312) 22.5 cm thickness. A slurry of
cowdung is applied uniformly on
matter (OM) by these sources green manure should be withered top of each layers. Water may
varies with the elevation and before stacking in the compost be sprinkled to wet the layer
length of the pruning eycle. At tank. Tea wastes, coffee husk, sufficiently. The moisture should
mid elevation, it is as high as 23 cowdung and animal refuses, be maintained at 50-70 per cent
t/ha and at high elevation of 2500 straw, weeds, cardamom for ideal decomposition. A layer
m, it reduces to 14 t/ha Table - 5. thrashings, shade tree litters and of tank silt is applied over each
loppings and tea prunings can be layer. The ratio of cowdung,
7. Compost preparation of gainfully exploited in the agrowastes and river or tank soil
various sources preparation of compost. in the compost should be
5:45:50. For producing one
The preparation of compost b. Preparation of compost tonne of compost about 50 kg
involves three major steps, viz., tank cowdung, 450 kg of agro-wastes
a) Agrowastes collection, b) and 500 kg of soil must be added.
preparation of compost tank, c) A compost tank of inner In areas where there is not
Composting. dimension 4.5 x 2.0 x 1.0 m may enough river and tank si It,
be constructed with 22.5 cm
cowdung and agro-wastes can be
thickness of brick walls having added to make up the compost
a. Agrowastes collection:
alternate sol id layer and tank.
Any orgdnic biomass which are pertorated layer. The perforated
degradable, can be used as raw layer allows air passagerequired The compost tank can be filled
material for composting. Hard for decomposition. The bottom up either by recurrent filling or
materials, which resist portion of the tank is sealed well instalment filling. In the recurrent
decomposition like tea prunings, with a solid base, by one layer of filling, the agrowastes dung slurry
wood loppings are required to be bricks to check ground water and and soil should be applied in the
shredded of about 5 cm size. All seepageof nutrients into the soil. proposed proportions daily. In
fresh materials such asweeds and The side wall should have solid instalment filling, it may be done

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ThePlanters'Chronicle March2001
in two instalments. The second narrow C:N ratio and of high problem in these areas. The coir
instalmentfilling should be taken manurial value. One tank (9 m2) pith can be composted and easily
up 15 days after fi rst fi IIing. To can be used thrice in a year for converted in to rich sourc.e
hasten the process of composting and can produce 15 of nutrients. As the coir pith will
decomposition and for the tonnes of compost annually. not decompose on its own,
preparation of balanced compost 'pluerotus' mushroom and urea
2.5 kg of sulphate of ammonia 8. Coir pith compost are used as a catalyst. For every
(SOA)or 1.5 kg of urea and 3.0 tonne of coir pith 5 kg of urea and
kg of rock phosphate may be The coir pith is a material that 5 bottles of pluerotus mushroom
applied on each layer of invariably discarded after the is required. Coir pith at 1OOkg(5
cowdung, agrowastes and soil of process of making coir rope and cm x 3 cm) is spread out evenly
tank size 9 m2. The successive is abundantly avai lable in in shade. Then a bottle of
layersare added till the heap rises coconut growing areas of Tamil mushroom seed (200 g) is
to 60 cm above the tank level or Nadu and Kerala. For every kg sprinkled over it. Above it 100
above the ground level in the of coconut fibre extracted, 2 kg kg of coir pith is spread again and
caseof pits. Finally the top layer of coir pith is obtained. The 1 kg of urea is sprinkled. This
is sealed with a 7.5 cm layer of disposal of coir pith is a big process is repeated in an
mud and cowdung mixture and
shaped like a dome and covered
with straw, coconut leaves and
other leafy materials, or it may be TABLE 6. NUTRIENTS IN VARIOUS SOURCESOF
thatched to protect the tank from ORGANIC MANURES
direct sun and rain. Bamboo
Sources of organic manure
sticksare placed at intervals in the
heaps to supply air and to Coffee Press mud
Parametres Castor Neem Coir pith
examine the temperature of husk Compost
cake cake Compost
compost tank. Considerable heat Compost (Green Plus)
(50-72°C) develops after 4 or 5 PH 6.2 6.8 7.8 6.8 7.2
daysand persists for 3 to 4 weeks EC(dSm-1) 0.17 0.25 0.33 0.03 0.11
and ki lis weed seeds and
OC(%) 38.6 30.1 15.1 26.4 29.5
destroys all pathogenic
organisms. If at any time the N(%) 4.21 2.82 1.51 2.54 3.21
fermentation stops and pit cools, C/N 9.17 10.68 10.00 10.39 9.19
lack of moisture and sufficient 1.1 0.15 0.78 1.07 1.23
P(%)
supply of air are the most likely 1.2 1.62 0.87 0.38 0.85
K(%)
cause. If moisture is lacking,
sufficient water may be sprinkled Ca(%) 0.69 0.17 2.27 0.72 1.93
and if supply of air isthe problem, Mg(%) 0.58 0.13 0.85 0.52 1.06
it may be stirred with rakes. A
drain may be dug around the
5(%) . .
I
0.61 0.41 0.85 0.64 1.86

Fe (ppm) 942 1287 1389 1344 1278

compost tank. The compost will
Cu (ppm) 2.0 2.7 6.2 5.9 5.7
be ready under normal condition
in about 100-120 days. The well Mn (ppm) 15.0 5.0 33.0 12.0 27.0
decomposed compost will be 5(%) 0.61 0.41 0.85 0.64 1.86
odourless, black fine powder 27 8 231 82 95
Zn (ppm)
innocuous manure having

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ThePlanters'Chronicle March2001
.
alternating manner to form 10
layers. Water is sprinkled over
the coir pith so as to maintain 200
per cent moisture content for 30
to 40 days (Satyamurthy, G, The
Hindu, December 21,1998).
The volume of coir pith gets
reduced by half and can be used
as a compost. The nutrients in
coir pith compost is given in
Table - 6.
9. Vermi compost
preparation
The preparation of vermi
compost involves three stages,
viz., a) Partial digestion of
agrowastes, b) Inoculation and
Vermi composting and c)
Screening and separation.
a. Partial digestion of
agrowastes
The procedure is the same as
discussed earlier for compost
preparation but the materials are
not allowed to decompose
completely, the partially digested
agrowaste materials are taken out
from the compost tank after 30-
45 days depending on weather
conditions for vermi culture.
b. Vermi composting
Thatched roof shed, with a flat
level ground is ideal for vermi
composting. The most
convenient dimension of vermi
compost pit for easy handlings is
2 m long, 1 m wide and 75 cm
depth. It can be made of brick
and mortar. Five to 7.5 cm layer
ofbroken bricks or pebbles may
lID
be added at the base of pit to
drain excess water. Another layer
of 15 cm loamy soi I shou Id be
sprinkled on the layer of broken
bricks. This forms the active
slurry and water may be done as .
mentioned before. The addition
of cow dung slurry and water may
be stopped at the end of three
weeks after second application of
ground for earthworm activity agrowaste under normal
and is called vermibed. About temperature, on 30th day of
100 earthworms may be second application of predigested
inoculated for an area of 2 m2on compost material, the vermi
the vermibed. Above that a layer compost will be ready for harvest
of partially digested agrowastes with a lot of vermicasts. The
may be even Iy spread to a following species of earth worms
thickness of 15-22.5 cm. can be used for the vermi
Cowdung slurry may be sprinkled composting; Lampito mauriti
on the surface. Water may be (found in sandy loam soiD,
sprinkled to sufficiently wet the Octochaetona serrata (found in
material. Application of clayey soi I) Lumbricus terrestis
cowdung slurry and water may (deep boring), Allolobophora
be repeated on alternate days for caliginosa (Shallow boring),
two weeks. Moisture content of Eudrilus eugeniae, Eisenia
the bed has to be maintained at foetida, Perionyx excavatusand -
about 60 per cent for better Pheretima e/ongata.
earthworm activity. After two
weeks, another layer of partially c. Screening and separation: I
digested agrowastes may be
spread to a thickness of 15 to 22.5 Vermi compost should be heaped
cm. Application of cowdung into small cones in an open place.
Within a few hours, almost all the
earthworms wi II settle down at
TABLE 7. NUTRIENTS IN the bottom and the top and
VERMI COMPOST periphery will be free from
earthworms which may be
Parameters Range Value removed and dried in shade to
PH of 1% reduce the moisture content
solution 7.2 - 7.9 below 25 per cent. It may be
sieved to separate uncomposted
EC of 1%
agrowastes which can be reused.
solution
The earthworms at the bottom.
(dSm-l) 0.12 - 0.35
can be reused for inoculation.
Carbon (%) 18.2 - 32.6 The number of vermi compost
Nitrogen (%) 1.36 - 4.70 beds will vary depending on the
Phosphorous(%) 0.25 - 2.55 quantity of agrowastes available
0.07 - 0.78 in the estate. The natural enemies
Potassium (%)
of earthworms are ants, rats,
C/N 6.9 - 13.5 bandicoots and birds. For
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ThePlanters'Chronicle March 2001
.
protection against rats, birds and
bandicoots, the compost beds
may be covered with wire mesh
of suitable thickness and
dimension facilitating adequate
aeration. For protection against
ants, BHC dust may be applied
in bands around vermi compost
tanks.
Vermiculture in tea
The verm i compost can be
prepared separately and can be
mixed in nursery soil for good
rooting, in infilling and replanted
areasfor good establishment and
in mature tea fields for
enrichment of poor soil organic
matter. But vermiculture will not
be successfulin tea fields because
chemical weed control is
practised, soi I reaction is
extremely acidic to very strongly
acidic, organic matter is generally
low to medium, during monsoon
months soil is too wet, during
winter months soil temperature
some times is below 10°C and
because various inorganic
fertilisers are used for nutrition
of tea.
10. Standards for organic
manure
Fertiliser Advisory Development
and Information Net work for
Asia and Pacific (FADINAP),
of
Bangkok has formulated the
following standards for organic
manure:
a) pH(l %) : 6.5 - 7.5 more or
less neutral
am
b)
c)
d)
Organic matter should be
less than 20.0 per cent
Carbon: Nitrogen ratio
(C:Nratio) -10:1 to 15:1
Moisture content should not
exceed 25.0 per cent
11. Organic tea manuring
Compost, oil cakes and rock
phosphate are the main inputs to
substitute
nutrients.
the removal
Nitrogen is also
supplied by regular lopping of
low and medium shade trees and
of
e) Pathogens* : absent
leguminous trees (Gliricidia
*Pathogens and heavy metals sepium, Gliricidia maculata)
originate mainly from sewage which can be grown along
sludge and urban garbage. roadsides and other vacant
The above specification are also patches. Bone meal, fish meal
applicable for organic manures and other manures of organic can
also be used if available from
suitable for tea plantations. In
addition, electrical conductivity unpolluted environment; wood
(EC) is also consideredto judge ash can also be applied. The
their suitability for use in tea recommendations on manuring
fields. of organic tea are given in Tables
8 and 9. Rock phosphate may be
EC (1 %) up to 0.50 dSm-1
applied in the pruned and third
recommended for young tea.
year as placement based on soil
EC (1 %)) up to 1.5 dSm-1 test values. Soi I avai lable P
recommended for mature tea should be maintained at and
only.
above 22 ppm. Wood ash may
TABLE8. MANURING OF ORGANIC TEA - PRUNED YEAR
(For 2500 to 4000 kg made tea/ha)
Manure Quantity Nutrients(kg/ha)
t/ha N P K
Compost* 10 199 14 72
Neem cake**(l split) 2.5 121 9 26
Castorcake***(l split) 2.5 121 9 28
I
Rock phosphate
0.4 - 35 -
(20 %P2Os)- 1 split
* Compost (1.99% N, 0.14 % P, 0.72 %K,moisture lessthan 10%)
** Neem cake(4.85% N, 0.36%P, 1.03%K)
* * * Castor cake (4.82% N, 0.35% P, 1.11 % K)
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The Planters' Chronicle March 2001
..
TABLE 9. MANURING OF ORGANIC TEA OTHER THAN
PRUNED YEAR
(For 2500 To 4000 kg made teal ha)

Manure Quantity
-

Nutrients(kg/ha)
12. Conclusion
The crop husbandry practices
viz., shade regulation, retention
of pruning litters in the field,
chemical weed control, mulching
of young tea and mature tea in
t/ha N P K the pruned year may be followed
to enrich organic matter status of
Neem cake**(2 split) 5.0 242 18 52 tea fields. It is not economical to
Castor cake***(2 split) 5.0 242 18 56 meet the whole nutritional
Wood Ash 5.5% K (1split) 0.5 - - 28 requirement by organic matures
Rock phosphate alone either in young tea or
- - mature tea. The external
(20 %P2Os)- 1 split 0.4 35
application of organic manures
** Neem cake(4.85%N, 0.36% P, 1.03% K) may be followed only in the field
* * * Castor cake (4.82% N, 0.35% P, 1.11 % K) having low organic matter
content in addition to
be applied only in mature tea dimension of trench should be 2
recommended husbandry
fields except in the pruned year, x 0.3 x 0.45 m at 2 m apart practices for the enrichment of
preferably in dry periods by between the trenches. Trenches
soil organic matter. The nitrogen
broadcasting 15 cm away from may be taken across the slope dose may be adjusted based on
the collar. Organic manures once in every two to three rows organic matter statusof tea fields,
should not be broadcasted in the depending on the gradient. The which is an integrated approach
tea fields. It should be applied in minimum rate is 20 to 25 tlha to for sustainable productivity of tea
the staggered trenches. The be applied in two equal splits. in south India.
11