Abstract:
Bio-char is one of the ideal soil amendments used for improvement of tea (Camellia sinensis) growth
and productivity through enhancing the adsorption of soil nutrients. A field experiment was designed
using two factor Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design to study the effect of Cinnamon bio char on the growth performances of young and mature tea plants were evaluated with three levels
of particle sizes (0-2, 3-4, 5-8mm) and application rates (25, 37.5, 50 g per plant).The research was
conducted from July 2022 to September 2022 at the field numbers of 10 (young tea field, TRI 2027)
and 11(mature tea field, TRI-2026), Talgaswella State, Talgaswella belongs to WL1a agro-ecological
zone. Young plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of branches per plant and leaf
chlorophyll content were measured as the growth parameters and for the yield parameter tea yield
was measured in every two-week interval. The results exhibited that all growth and yield characters
of tea were significantly (P≤0.05) influenced by levels of particle sizes and application rates. Within
this three-month period, plants treated with the large particle size (5-8mm) and the highest
application rate (50g per plant) of bio-char showed maximum growth performances of young tea.
Whereas the plants treated with the minimum particle size (0-2mm) showed maximum yield of tea.
Hence, it is concluded application of 50g of Cinnamon bio-char per plant with particle size of 5-8 mm
showed best performance of young tea plantations and application of Cinnamon bio-char with the
rate of 25, 37.5 or 50 g per plant with particle size of 0 –2 mm is best for increment of tea yield.
