Abstract
Potassium (K) deficiency is widespread in Alfisols on which tea is grown, and quantifying the availability of K to the tea plants is important in designing fertilizer regimes and in ensuring that tea production systems remain sustainable. In this study, the contents of available K, its release characteristics, and the composition of K-bearing minerals were determined for Alfisols on which tea had been grown for 5, 10, 15, or 30 years. The contents of exchangeable K (EK), non-exchangeable K (NEK), K extracted with sodium tetraphenylboron, release threshold values of total labile K, and equilibrium K concentration increased as the age of the plantation increased. However, the content of EK even in the oldest plantations was far below the critical value for K deficiency (80 mg kg−1). The concentration of total labile K was higher than that of EK irrespective of the age of the plantation, which points to serious exhaustion of NEK reserves. Furthermore, compared to older plantations, the younger plantations contained less of illite and chlorite and more of kaolinite and vermiculite in the clay fraction of the soils. Chlorite and illite was significantly positive correlated to available K either in the surface layer (0–15 cm) or in the deeper layer (15–30 cm), whereas kaolinite was significantly and negatively correlated to available K at both depths. Although tea plantations increased the reserves of soil available K, the increase was not enough either to overcome the deficiency of available K—which continues to be extremely severe—or to prevent the distortion of clay minerals in Alfisols. Adequate inputs of K are therefore essential for increasing the inherent capacity of the Alfisols to supply K and, in turn, to obtain high yields and superior-quality tea.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barré P, Montagnier C, Chenu C, Abbadie L, Velde B (2008) Clay minerals as a soil potassium reservoir: observation and quantification through X-ray diffraction. Plant Soil 302:213–220. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-007-9471-6
Bhonsle NS, Pal SK, Sekhon GS (1992) Relationship of K forms and release characteristics with clay mineralogy. Geoderma 54:285–293. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7061(92)90110-S
Cox AE, Joern BC (1997) Release kinetics of nonexchangeable potassium in soils using sodium tetraphenylboron. Soil Sci 162:588–598. https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-199708000-00008
Darunsontaya T, Suddhiprakarn A, Kheoruenromne I, Gilkes RJ (2010) The kinetics of potassium release to sodium tetraphenylboron solution from the clay fraction of highly weathered soils. Appl Clay Sci 50:376–385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2010.09.001
Darunsontaya T, Suddhiprakarn A, Kheoruenromne I, Prakongkep N, Gilkes RJ (2012) The forms and availability to plants of soil potassium as related to mineralogy for upland Oxisols and Ultisols from Thailand. Geoderma 170:11–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2011.10.002
Das D, Nayak AK, Thilagam VK, Chatterjee D, Shahid M, Tripathi R, Mohanty S, Kumar A, Lal B, Gautam P, Panda BB, Biswas SS (2018) Measuring potassium fractions is not sufficient to assess the long-term impact of fertilization and manuring on soil's potassium supplying capacity. J Soils Sediments 18:1806–1820. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-018-1922-6
Das D, Dwivedi BS, Datta SP, Datta SC, Meena MC, Agarwal BK, Shahi DK, Singh M, Chakraborty D, Jaggi S (2019) Potassium supplying capacity of a red soil from eastern India after forty-two years of continuous cropping and fertilization. Geoderma 341:76–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2019.01.041
Datta SC (2005) Characterization of soil for potential potassium supplying capacity and release of non-exchangeable potassium during cropping through simulation model. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 36:969–992. https://doi.org/10.1081/CSS-200050283
FAO (n.d.) FAOSTAT, Crops. [Online]. Available: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/?#data/TP
Ghosh BN, Singh RD (2001) Potassium release characteristics of some soils of Uttar Pradesh hills varying in altitude and their relationship with forms of soil K and clay mineralogy. Geoderma 104:135–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-7061(01)00078-7
Gurav PP, Datta SC, Ray SK, Choudhari PL, Ahmed N (2018) Assessment of potassium release threshold levels of Vertisols (shrink-swell soils) in different agro-ecological regions of India. Appl Clay Sci 165:155–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2018.08.008
Han GZ, Huang LM, Tang XG (2019) Potassium supply capacity response to K-bearing mineral changes in Chinese purple paddy soil chronosequences. J Soils Sediments 19:1190–1200. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-018-2124-y
He P, Yang LP, Xu XP, Zhao SC, Chen F, Li ST, Tu SH, Jin JY, Johnston AM (2015) Temporal and spatial variation of soil available potassium in China (1990-2012). Field Crop Res 173:49–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2015.01.003
Hosseinpur AR, Motaghian HR (2013) Application of kinetic models in describing soil potassium release characteristics and their correlations with potassium extracted by chemical methods. Pedosphere 23:482–492. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(13)60041-7
Hosseinpur AR, Motaghian HR, Salehi MH (2012) Potassium release kinetics and its correlation with pinto bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) plant indices. Plant Soil Environ 58:328–333. https://doi.org/10.1614/WT-D-11-00161.1
Jalali M (2006) Kinetics of non-exchangeable potassium release and availability in some calcareous soils of western Iran. Geoderma 135:63–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2005.11.006
Kahle M, Kleber M, Jahn R (2002) Review of XRD-based quantitative analyses of clay minerals in soils: the suitability of mineral intensity factors. Geoderma 109:191–205. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-7061(02)00175-1
Li DC, Velde B, Li FM, Zhang GL, Zhao MS, Huang LM (2011) Impact of long-term Alfalfa cropping on soil potassium content and clay minerals in a semi-arid Loess soil in China. Pedosphere 21:522–531. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(11)60154-9
Li T, Wang HY, Wang J, Zhou ZJ, Zhou JM (2015a) Exploring the potential of phyllosilicate minerals as potassium fertilizers using sodium tetraphenyl boron and intensive cropping with perennial ryegrass. Sci Rep 5:9249. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep09249
Li T, Wang HY, Zhou ZJ, Chen XQ, Zhou JM (2015b) A nano-scale study of the mechanisms of non-exchangeable potassium release from micas. Appl Clay Sci 118:131–137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2015.09.013
Li T, Wang HY, Chen XQ, Zhou JM (2017) Soil reserves of potassium: release and availability to Lolium Perenne in relation to clay minerals in six cropland soils from eastern China. Land Degrad Dev 28:1696–1703. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.2701
Lu RK (2000) Methods of soil and agro-chemistry analysis. China Agricultural Science and Technology Press, Beijing, pp 62–141
Mengel K, Uhlenbecker K (1993) Determination of available interlayer potassium and its uptake by ryegrass. Soil Sci Soc Am J 57:761–766. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1993.03615995005700030023x
Mueller B (2015) Experimental interactions between clay minerals and bacteria: a review. Pedosphere 25:799–810. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(15)30061-8
Naidu LGK, Reddy RS, Prakasa Rao EVS, Krishnam P, Nasre RA (1996) Potassium deficiency in crops - an emerging problem in red and lateritic soils. J Potassium Res 12:23–29
National Soil Survey Office (1998) Soils of China. Chinese Agriculture Press, Beijing, pp 1–1253 (In Chinese)
Öborn I, Andrist-Rangel Y, Askekaard M, Grant CA, Watson CA, Edwards AC (2005) Critical aspects of potassium management in agricultural systems. Soil Use Manag 21:102–112. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-2743.2005.tb00114.x
Öborn I, Edwards A, Hillier S (2010) Quantifying uptake rate of potassium from soil in a long-term grass rotation experiment. Plant Soil 335:3–19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0429-8
Paola A, Pierre B, Vincenza C, Vincenzo DM, Bruce V (2016) Short term clay mineral release and re-capture of potassium in a Zea mays field experiment. Geoderma 264:54–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2015.10.005
Petraglia A, Cacciatori C, Chelli S, Fenu G, Calderisi G, Gargano D, Abeli T, Orsenigo S, Carbognani M (2019) Litter decomposition: effects of temperature driven by soil moisture and vegetation type. Plant Soil 435:187–200. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-018-3889-x
Pramanik P, Safique S, Zahan A, Phukan M, Ghosh S (2017) Cellulolytic microorganisms control the availability of nitrogen in microcosm of shredded pruning litter treated highly acidic tea-growing soils of Assam in Northeast India. Appl Soil Ecol 120:30–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2017.07.026
Römheld V, Kirkby E (2010) Research on potassium in agriculture: needs and prospects. Plant Soil 335:155–180. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0520-1
Ruan JY, Ma LF, Shi YZ (2013) Potassium management in tea plantations: its uptake by field plants, status in soils, and efficacy on yields and quality of teas in China. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 176:450–459. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.201200175
Sarkar GK, Chattopadhyay AP, Sanyal SK (2013) Release pattern of non-exchangeable potassium reserves in Alfisols, Inceptisols and Entisols of West Bengal, India. Geoderma 207:8–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2013.04.029
Sharma A, Jalali VK, Arora S (2010) Non-exchangeable potassium release and its removal in foot-hill soils of North-West Himalayas. Catena 82:112–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2010.05.009
Simonsson M, Andersson S, Andrist-Rangel Y, Hillier S, Mattsson L, Öborn I (2007) Potassium release and fixation as a function of fertilizer application rate and soil parent material. Geoderma 140:188–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2007.04.002
Simonsson M, Hillier S, Öborn I (2009) Changes in clay minerals and potassium fixation capacity as a result of release and fixation of potassium in long-term field experiments. Geoderma 151:109–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2009.03.018
Soil Survey Staff in USDA (2014) Keys to Soil Taxonomy, 12th edn. USDA—Natural Resources Conservation Service, Washington, DC, pp 1–306
Srinivasarao C, Rupa TR, Subba Rao A, Ramesh G, Bansal SK (2006) Release kinetics of nonexchangeable potassium by different extractants from soils of varying mineralogy and depth. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 37:473–491. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103620500449351
Srinivasarao C, Kundu S, Ramachandrappa BK, Reddy S, Lal R, Venkateswarlu B, Sahrawat KL, Naik RP (2014) Potassium release characteristics, potassium balance, and fingermillet (Eleusine coracana G.) yield sustainability in a 27-year long experiment on an Alfisol in the semi-arid tropical India. Plant Soil 374:315–330. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1877-8
Sun L, Liu Y, Wu L, Liao H (2019) Comprehensive analysis revealed the close relationship between N/P/K status and secondary metabolites in tea leaves. ACS Omega 4:176–184. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.8b02611
Tang S, Liu Y, Zheng N, Li Y, Ma Q, Xiao H, Zhou X, Xu X, Jiang T, He P, Wu L (2020) Temporal variation in nutrient requirements of tea (Camellia sinensis) in China based on QUEFTS analysis. Sci Rep 10:1745. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-57809-x
Velde B, Peck T (2002) Clay mineral changes in the morrow experimental plots, University of Illinois. Clay Clay Min 50:364–370. https://doi.org/10.1346/000986002760833738
Wang HY, Sun HX, Zhou JM, Cheng W, Du CW, Chen XQ (2010) Evaluating plant-available potassium in different soils using a modified sodium tetraphenyl boron method. Soil Sci 175:544–551. https://doi.org/10.1097/SS.0b013e3181fadf3a
Wang H, Cheng W, Li T, Zhou J, Chen X (2016) Can nonexchangeable potassium be differentiated from structural potassium in soils? Pedosphere 26:206–215. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(15)60035-2
Wang Z, Geng Y, Liang T (2020) Optimization of reduced chemical fertilizer use in tea gardens based on the assessment of related environmental and economic benefits. Sci Total Environ 713:136439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136439
Xiao D (1992) Alfisols and closely related soils in China. Chin Geogr Sci 2:18–29 http://egeoscien.neigae.ac.cn/EN/Y1992/V2/I1/18
Yan P, Wu L, Wang D, Fu J, Shen C, Li X, Zhang L, Zhang L, Fan L, Han W (2020) Soil acidification in Chinese tea plantations. Sci Total Environ 715:136963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136963
Yang XD, Ni K, Shi YZ, Yi XY, Zhang QF, Fang L, Ma LF, Ruan J (2018) Effects of long-term nitrogen application on soil acidification and solution chemistry of a tea plantation in China. Agric Ecosyst Environ 252:74–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2017.10.004
Zhang M, Riaz M, Liu B, Xia H, El-desouki Z, Jiang C (2020) Two-year study of biochar: achieving excellent capability of potassium supply via alter clay mineral composition and potassium-dissolving bacteria activity. Sci Total Environ 717:137286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137286
Zhao W, Tan WF (2018) Quantitative and structural analysis of minerals in soil clay fractions developed under different climate zones in China by XRD with Rietveld method, and its implications for pedogenesis. Appl Clay Sci 162:351–361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2018.05.019
Zhou Z, Chen K, Yu H, Chen Q, Wu F, Zeng X, Tu S, Qin Y, Meakin R, Fan X (2019) Changes in tea performance and soil properties after three years of polyhalite application. Agron J 111:1967–1976. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2018.06.0393
Zörb C, Senbayram M, Peiter E (2014) Potassium in agriculture--status and perspectives. J Plant Physiol 171:656–669. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jplph.2013.08.008
Acknowledgments
This study was funded by the Applied Basic Research Program of Sichuan Province (grant number 2021YJ0259) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 41601311). The authors acknowledge International Science Editing (http://www.internationalscienceediting.com) for editing this manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interests.
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Highlights
• Tea plantations increased the reserves of soil available potassium (K).
• Even highest levels of exchangeable K lower than minimum requirements.
• Release threshold values of total labile K were higher than those of exchangeable K.
• Minerals bearing K showed extremely serious distortions.
• Adequate K input is required to boost the capacity of Alfisols to supply K.
Supplementary Information
ESM 1
(DOCX 55 kb)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, T., Lang, S., Li, L. et al. Potassium Availability in Tea Plantations of Different Ages Grown on Alfisols: Content, Dynamics, Release, and Composition of Potassium-Bearing Minerals. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr 21, 1252–1262 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-021-00437-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-021-00437-9