Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

ECO-FRIENDIY UFITIVATION OF TEA PLANT IN ASSOCIATION WITH MYCORRHIZA

Subhash C. Barua

Abstract

Tea plant (Camellia sinensis (L) 0. Kuntze is known to be associated with the Vescicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) fungi. Some common weeds of tea plantation are also found to have similar association with VAM fungi. The inocula of three such weeds, namely Ageratum con yzoides, Borreri a hispida and Mimosa invisa were incorporated to the nursery sleeve soil in which vegetative cuttigs of tea were planted. The soil was also treated with either rock phsophate or super phosphate. The vegetatively proagated young tea plants grown in soil treated with inoculum of Mimosa invisa and rock phosphate showed better growth in temrs of shoot length, number of leaf and branches, and fresh and dry weight of the shoots. The results encourage an eco-friendly cultivation practice.