<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Over the past years, the tea industry in India has started to suffer from various drawbacks, i.e. issues regarding low productivity and rising input costs (namely the uneconomic age profile of tea bushes across the tea estates of North Bengal), leading to a decline in the industry and dramatic expansion of small tea growers. Accordingly, the vast expansion of small tea plantations in North Bengal prompted this study to examine the purpose and outcome of such an expansion concept. In the present study, Bhotepatty, Maynaguri (the Jalpaiguri district), was considered due to an immense conversion of agricultural land into numerous small tea plantations in the region. The study focuses on the agricultural shift from potato fields to small tea gardens. Initially, a cumulative approach encompassing the preliminary survey work and analysis of soil physicochemical characteristics was adopted to assess the adequacy of this agricultural shift. The survey conducted revealed the lack of proper land preparation, land rehabilitation before planting, sound soil nutrient management, and soil testing programs after shifting (responsible for the depletion of major nutrients such as potassium and phosphorus in the tea soil, which can be resolved with proper and timely manuring practices). Sulphur and the organic matter, organic carbon and available nitrogen of the top soil were detected in huge amounts compared to the optimum values suggested by the Tea Board of India.</p>
</abstract>

Over the past years, the tea industry in India has started to suffer from various drawbacks, i.e. issues regarding low productivity and rising input costs (namely the uneconomic age profile of tea bushes across the tea estates of North Bengal), leading to a decline in the industry and dramatic expansion of small tea growers. Accordingly, the vast expansion of small tea plantations in North Bengal prompted this study to examine the purpose and outcome of such an expansion concept. In the present study, Bhotepatty, Maynaguri (the Jalpaiguri district), was considered due to an immense conversion of agricultural land into numerous small tea plantations in the region. The study focuses on the agricultural shift from potato fields to small tea gardens. Initially, a cumulative approach encompassing the preliminary survey work and analysis of soil physicochemical characteristics was adopted to assess the adequacy of this agricultural shift. The survey conducted revealed the lack of proper land preparation, land rehabilitation before planting, sound soil nutrient management, and soil testing programs after shifting (responsible for the depletion of major nutrients such as potassium and phosphorus in the tea soil, which can be resolved with proper and timely manuring practices). Sulphur and the organic matter, organic carbon and available nitrogen of the top soil were detected in huge amounts compared to the optimum values suggested by the Tea Board of India.

Conversion of Potato Fields into Small Tea Plantations at Bhotepatty, Mainaguri: Consequences of This Shifting Agriculture Through Survey and Soil Analysis

Molecular Biology and Tissue Culture Laboratory

Contemporary Agriculture

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Over the past years, the tea industry in India has started to suffer from various drawbacks, i.e. issues regarding low productivity and rising input costs...

Conversion of Potato Fields into Small Tea Plantations at Bhotepatty, Mainaguri: Consequences of This Shifting Agriculture Through Survey and Soil Analysis

Published Online: Nov 16, 2023

Page range: 98 - 106

Received: Apr 03, 2023

Accepted: May 19, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/contagri-2023-0013

Keywords
small tea growers, potato, tea, survey, soil analysis

© 2023 Dipankar Das et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Conversion of Potato Fields into Small Tea Plantations at Bhotepatty, Mainaguri: Consequences of This Shifting Agriculture Through Survey and Soil Analysis

Published Online: Nov 16, 2023

Page range: 98 - 106

Received: Apr 03, 2023

Accepted: May 19, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/contagri-2023-0013

Keywordssmall tea growers, potato, tea, survey, soil analysis

© 2023 Dipankar Das et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
small tea growers, potato, tea, survey, soil analysis