STUDY ON SHADE TREE AND SOIL CHARACTERISTICS OF TEA GARDENS IN SYLHET

Abstract

Agroforestry systems are spread all over the world and maintain a multistoried composition with good association of extensively managed tea and shade trees. The study was conducted at the four tea gardens in Sylhet district during June 2018 to February 2019. Data were collected following random sampling technique and analysis was done by SPSS 16.0 software. 50 shade trees and 50 tea plants were randomly selected for the study of height, girth and spacing. Soil sample were collected randomly from 0-15 cm depth in every garden to determine texture, pH, nitrogen, organic matter, phosphorus, potassium and sodium ion. The average pH, total nitrogen, organic matter, phosphorus content were 4.36, 0.08%, 1.20%, 26.5 mg/kg and potassium and sulphur content were 0.25 and 0.51 meq/100g soil respectively in the tea gardens. The soil of Malnicherra and Lakkatura garden belonged to loamy sand and Tarapur and Ali Bahar garden belonged to sandy loam textural class. Dominant shade trees named Albizia lebbek, Albizia procera and Leucaena. leucocephala etc. which had positive significant relation with tea plant height and girth. Spacing of tea gardens was also observed including their arrangements with shade trees. Average spacing was maintained in case of tea plant and permanent shade tree which were 116.51×58.23 cm square and 4.14×5.47 meter square respectively and average light intensity was 520- 1400 μmol m -2 s in the studied garden that increased photosynthesis rate.