Alder trees enhance crop productivity and soil microbial biomass in tea plantations

Monoculture farming systems lead to soils depleted of nutrients and diminished microbial functional diversity, disrupting process crucial to maintaining soil health. The planting of trees in these monoculture systems is one way to improve soil nutrition and biodiversity. Therefore, the objective was how planting the N fixing tree Alnus nepalensis (7 years old), into monoculture tea (Camellia sinensis var., assamica) plantations (32 years old), influences the soil fungal and bacterial communities, and how this impacts on tea productivity.

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Field Value
Type of ALiSEA product None
Title Alder trees enhance crop productivity and soil microbial biomass in tea plantations
Description Monoculture farming systems lead to soils depleted of nutrients and diminished microbial functional diversity, disrupting process crucial to maintaining soil health. The planting of trees in these monoculture systems is one way to improve soil nutrition and biodiversity. Therefore, the objective was how planting the N fixing tree Alnus nepalensis (7 years old), into monoculture tea (Camellia sinensis var., assamica) plantations (32 years old), influences the soil fungal and bacterial communities, and how this impacts on tea productivity.
Agroecology Category
  • Integrated systems
  • Input reduction and recycling
  • Seed management
  • Soil health
  • Nutrition and diets
  • Biodiversity
  • Knowledge and values
Agroecology Keyword
  • Agroforestry
  • Biological control
  • Disease resistance
  • Biomass
  • Soil fertility
  • Soil health
  • Nutrient
  • Biodiversity
  • Intercropping
  • Grassland
  • Habitat
  • Traditional knowledge
Contributing organisations Applied Soil Ecology
Author P.E. Mortimer, H. Gui, J. Xu, C. Zhang, E. Barrios, K.D. Hyde
Year 2015
Type of document Factsheet
Language English
Spatial Information
Country China
Administrative Level 1
Administrative Level 2
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