Effect of aluminium on growth of tea (<i>Camellia sinensis</i>) and its uptake of potassium and phosphorus

Abstract

Abstract Tea seedlings were grown for up to 10 months in the glasshouse in an acid soil, to which solutions of varying K/Al concentration ratios were given weekly. During growth, the % K in the leaf dry matter increased with the labile K concentration but was not influenced by the Al concentration in the soil. However, the largest level of Al in soil decreased plant growth and % K in the dry matter increased linearly of Al in soil, plant height, number of leaves, dry matter and % K in the dry matter increased linearly with the K given to the soil. The % Al in the plant was not affected by the labile K and Al contents of the soil. A highly significant linear relationship was observed between Al and P uptake by parts of the plant and by the whole plant, even thought the soil was not treated with P as a basal nutrient. The Al/P ratios in the first mature leaf, total leaves and stems were 3·4, 3·0 and 0·8, respectively, after 6 months growth. Uptake mechanisms are proposed to explain this.