incident solar radiation, which protects young tea plants from strong sunshine and
heavy precipitation.
In northeastern part of India, about 450–500 mm precipitation is received within
the monsoon season (mid-June to August month). Since overhead net cover allows
limited rainwater percolation inside the study site, additional water application was
given to the plot soil only in later part of August and September months. Plant
heights were recorded at 15 days interval, and soil properties were tested at the end
of this study.
13.7.1 Plant Growth
Irrespective of treatments, height of tea plants was increased throughout the study
duration. Initially, tea plants of almost same height (35.4–37.6 cattle manure) were
selected for this study. After 120 days of trial, average plant height of different
treatments varied within 43.5–51.3 cm (Fig. 13.8). With 35.4% increase, the highest
plant height was recorded in T 5 treatment, while the lowest plant height was
observed in T 3 treatment. This study indicated that application of mica waste and
vermicompost combination significantly (P < 0.05) increased plant height, whereas
mica waste-amended vermicompost did not show any effect on changes in the height
of tea plants.
13.7.2 Soil K Content
Application of all compost treatments (T 1 –T 5 ) increased exchangeable K content in
soil; however, the extent of increase was varied depending on the nature of treatments (Fig. 13.9). The highest exchangeable K content was recorded in the soil of T 5
treatment, though its value was statistically at par with that of T 4 and T 2 treatments.
Exchangeable K content of T 1 and T 3 treatments did not vary its increase significantly as compared to control (T 0 ) treatment.
Table 13.1 Details of the treatments tested in soil under controlled condition
Treatments Details
T 0
Control
T 1
MoP treatment at 60 kg K 2 O ha
À1
T 2
Vermicompost prepared from 5% (w/w) MW amended organic wastes at 2 t ha
À1
T 3
Vermicompost prepared from 10% (w/w) MW amended organic wastes at 2 t ha
À1
T 4
Vermicompost at 2 t ha
À1 along with mica waste at 5% (w/w)
T 5
Vermicompost at 2 t ha
À1 along with mica waste at 10% (w/w)
220
P. Pramanik et al.
heavy precipitation.
In northeastern part of India, about 450–500 mm precipitation is received within
the monsoon season (mid-June to August month). Since overhead net cover allows
limited rainwater percolation inside the study site, additional water application was
given to the plot soil only in later part of August and September months. Plant
heights were recorded at 15 days interval, and soil properties were tested at the end
of this study.
13.7.1 Plant Growth
Irrespective of treatments, height of tea plants was increased throughout the study
duration. Initially, tea plants of almost same height (35.4–37.6 cattle manure) were
selected for this study. After 120 days of trial, average plant height of different
treatments varied within 43.5–51.3 cm (Fig. 13.8). With 35.4% increase, the highest
plant height was recorded in T 5 treatment, while the lowest plant height was
observed in T 3 treatment. This study indicated that application of mica waste and
vermicompost combination significantly (P < 0.05) increased plant height, whereas
mica waste-amended vermicompost did not show any effect on changes in the height
of tea plants.
13.7.2 Soil K Content
Application of all compost treatments (T 1 –T 5 ) increased exchangeable K content in
soil; however, the extent of increase was varied depending on the nature of treatments (Fig. 13.9). The highest exchangeable K content was recorded in the soil of T 5
treatment, though its value was statistically at par with that of T 4 and T 2 treatments.
Exchangeable K content of T 1 and T 3 treatments did not vary its increase significantly as compared to control (T 0 ) treatment.
Table 13.1 Details of the treatments tested in soil under controlled condition
Treatments Details
T 0
Control
T 1
MoP treatment at 60 kg K 2 O ha
À1
T 2
Vermicompost prepared from 5% (w/w) MW amended organic wastes at 2 t ha
À1
T 3
Vermicompost prepared from 10% (w/w) MW amended organic wastes at 2 t ha
À1
T 4
Vermicompost at 2 t ha
À1 along with mica waste at 5% (w/w)
T 5
Vermicompost at 2 t ha
À1 along with mica waste at 10% (w/w)
220
P. Pramanik et al.