Contents
Fertilizer" is used when growing tea.
Appropriate use of fertilizers can make tea aroma and taste to your liking.
In this article, we will explain the types of fertilizers and their merits and demerits in detail.
Fertilizers used for tea
The purpose of fertilizers used for tea is to produce a large harvest of high-quality tea leaves, and the necessary nutrients are applied. This is called "fertilization."
The main components of fertilizer are nitrogen (N), phosphoric acid (P), and potassium (K), which are called the three primary elements of fertilizer.
Since tea leaves are a crop rich in amino acids, nitrogen supply is essential.
Fertilizers can be divided into two main categories: chemical fertilizers and organic fertilizers.
What are the characteristics of each type of fertilizer?
Chemical fertilizers
Chemical fertilizers are made by chemically manipulating components essential for plant growth and increasing their concentration.
There are two types of chemical fertilizers: "simple fertilizers," which are made from single fertilizer components such as nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium, and "chemical compound fertilizers," which are made by mixing these components.
Organic fertilizers
Organic fertilizers are fertilizers made from organic materials such as animal feces and food dregs.
Plant-based fertilizers are made from rapeseed, soybean, etc., and animal-based fertilizers are made from fish, fish, etc. There is also a type of fertilizer called "bokashi fertilizer," in which microorganisms ferment these materials.
Advantages and disadvantages of using fertilizers
The next topic is the advantages and disadvantages of chemical fertilizers and organic fertilizers.
Advantages of chemical fertilizers
Because the fertilizers are separated by component, you can use different types of fertilizers depending on what you want them to act on. In addition, fertilizer management becomes easier because you can choose the type and amount of fertilizer while watching growth.
In particular, since nitrogen determines the umami components of tea, the amount of nitrogen fertilizer can be adjusted to suit the desired umami of the tea.
Disadvantages of chemical fertilizers
Tea plants have a limited amount of fertilizer that they can absorb. Therefore, excessive application of fertilizers can cause tea plants to have trouble absorbing the fertilizers, resulting in lower yields and poor quality.
There are also concerns about the environmental impact of chemically produced fertilizers.
Advantages of organic fertilizers
Because of its high organic content, it provides food for microorganisms living in the soil and stimulates their activity. The products produced by the microorganisms improve the quality of the soil, which in turn enhances the growth of tea plants.
In addition, because the fertilizer is made from organic matter such as food, it is environmentally friendly.
Disadvantages of organic fertilizers
Compared to chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers do not have an immediate effect, making the timing of fertilizer application more difficult.
Incorrect fertilizer management can delay growth and reduce yields, so constant attention to soil, climate, and growth conditions are necessary to manage fertilizers.