Acta Agriculturae Zhejiangensis ›› 2023, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (3): 523-533.DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.2023.03.05

• Crop Science • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of intercropping tea with landscape trees on ecosystem of tea garden and tea production

WANG Jinfeng1(), ZHOU Qi1, LYU Yulong2, CHEN Zhuomei1   

  1. 1. Zhejiang Academy of Forestry, Hangzhou 310023, China
    2. Anji Forestry Bureau, Anji 313300, Zhejiang, China
  • Received:2022-04-24 Online:2023-03-25 Published:2023-04-07

Abstract:

In order to find a suitable intercropping mode for landscape trees and tea, three intercropping modes of landscape trees-tea, including Camellia sinensis(L.) O. Ktze.-Yulania denudata (Desr.) D.L.Fu, C. sinensis-Sapindus saponaria L. and C. sinensis-Prunus campanulata (Maxim.) Yü et Li were comprehensively studied and evaluated by measuring the microclimate, soil physical and chemical properties, and tea yield and quality. Tea monoculture was also studied as a control. The results showed that all the three intercropping modes were beneficial to the microclimate of the tea garden by reducing temperature and increasing humidity of tea garden, especially for the C. sinensis-Y. denudata mode and C. sinensis-S. saponaria mode. All three intercropping systems could improve the physical and chemical properties of the soil in the tea garden. In particular, for the tea garden soil intercropped with P. campanulata, the content of organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and the enzyme activities of urease and sucrase were significantly improved, which meant that the soil nutrients were comprehensively enhanced. While Y. denudata and S. saponaria intercropping with tea would promote the uptake of available potassium and phosphorus by tea trees, which would be beneficial for tea yield and quality. In addition, all three types of intercropping could improve tea yield and quality to some extent. At the time of promoting the growth of tea trees, the three intercropping modes were also beneficial to the accumulation of amino acids and other substances, and a suitable phenol-ammonia ratio was formed, which meant the tea quality was improved. Especially for the tea trees intercropped with S. saponaria, tea quality was significantly improved and tea yield was 51.81% higher than that of the monoculture tea garden. In conclusion, M. denudata, S. mukorossi and C. campanulata were all suitable landscape trees which could be intercropped with tea trees.

Key words: landscape trees, intercropping, ecosystem, tea yield, tea quality

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