The response of tea to foliar and soil applied copper: a case study of Luiga and Lugoda tea estates in Mufindi tea growing areas.
| dc.contributor.author | Mhagama, John Patrick | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-08-14T05:52:26Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-08-14T05:52:26Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2002 | |
| dc.description | Dissertation | |
| dc.description.abstract | A study was conducted in Mufindi district to determine the response of tea to copper application. Low levels of copper in the soils and in tea leaves in Mufindi which has been reported previously prompted this study to be carried out to determine the effect of foliar and soil copper application on quality and yield of tea. Five levels of copper; 0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 kg Cu/ha as copper sulphate (25% copper) applied on the foliage and 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 kg Cu/ha applied to the soil were used to test the effect of copper application on tea quality and yield. Copper application generally improved the fermentation of tea leaves and quality of made tea. Improvement of both fermentation and quality of made lea increased with increasing foliar and soil copper application rates. The effect of foliar copper application on fermentation and quality of made tea lasted for about three months. While that of soil application was found to last longer. The highest quality score was obtained at application rate of 6.0 and 5.0 kg Cu/ha for foliar and soil application of copper. respectively. Foliar copper application generally decreased tea yield non significantly at site one and two except at application rate of 4.5 kg Cu/ha which increased tea yield non significantly at site one by 5.41 percent. The decrease in yield was probably due to difference in the size of tea plants, different pruning intensities and application rates that could have not been uniform..Soil application of copper increased tea yield by up to 26.89 and 15.45 % for site one and two, respectively. At site two application of 5.0 kg Cu/ha gave the highest response. Foliar and soil application of copper significantly (P < 0.05) increased leaf copper concentration in both third leaf and shoots when compared to the control. Soil application of copper sulphate at a rate of 5.0 kg Cu/ha is recommended to correct copper deficiency at both sites. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Brook Bond Tanzania Limited (B. B. T. L | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/20.500.14820/7899 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Sokoine University of Agriculture | |
| dc.title | The response of tea to foliar and soil applied copper: a case study of Luiga and Lugoda tea estates in Mufindi tea growing areas. | |
| dc.type | Thesis |