Rhys Rebello
Identifying Sustainable Nitrogen Management Practices for Tea Plantations
Rebello, Rhys; Burgess, Paul J.; Girkin, Nicholas T.
Authors
Paul J. Burgess
NICHOLAS GIRKIN Nicholas.Girkin3@nottingham.ac.uk
Assistant Professor in Environmental Sci
Abstract
Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. It is mostly grown in the tropics with a heavy dependence on mineral nitrogen (N) fertilisers to maintain high yields while minimising the areas under cultivation. However, N is often applied in excess of crop requirements, resulting in substantial adverse environmental impacts. We conducted a systematic literature review, synthesising the findings from 48 studies to assess the impacts of excessive N application on soil health, and identify sustainable, alternative forms of N management. High N applications lead to soil acidification, N leaching to surface and groundwater, and the emission of greenhouse gases including nitrous oxide (N2O). We identified a range of alternative N management practices, the use of organic fertilisers, a mixture of organic and inorganic fertilisers, controlled release fertilisers, nitrification inhibitors and soil amendments including biochar. While many practices result in reduced N loading or mitigate some adverse impacts, major trade-offs include lower yields, and in some instances increased N2O emissions. Practices are also frequently trialled in isolation, meaning there may be a missed opportunity from assessing synergistic effects. Moreover, adoption rates of alternatives are low due to a lack of knowledge amongst farmers, and/or financial barriers. The use of site-specific management practices which incorporate local factors (for example climate, tea variety, irrigation requirements, site slope, and fertiliser type) are therefore recommended to improve sustainable N management practices in the long term.
Citation
Rebello, R., Burgess, P. J., & Girkin, N. T. (2022). Identifying Sustainable Nitrogen Management Practices for Tea Plantations. Nitrogen, 3(1), 43-57. https://doi.org/10.3390/nitrogen3010003
Journal Article Type | Review |
---|---|
Acceptance Date | Jan 11, 2022 |
Online Publication Date | Jan 14, 2022 |
Publication Date | Mar 1, 2022 |
Deposit Date | Jan 13, 2024 |
Publicly Available Date | Jan 15, 2024 |
Journal | Nitrogen (Switzerland) |
Print ISSN | 2504-3129 |
Electronic ISSN | 2504-3129 |
Publisher | MDPI |
Peer Reviewed | Peer Reviewed |
Volume | 3 |
Issue | 1 |
Pages | 43-57 |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.3390/nitrogen3010003 |
Public URL | https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/29583232 |
Publisher URL | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3129/3/1/3 |
Files
Identifying Sustainable Nitrogen Management Practices
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Publisher Licence URL
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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