It is understood that in recent years, Youyang Autonomous County has capitalized on its resource advantages to vigorously develop the Tea industry and has become a key county for tea production in Chongqing, with a tea garden area reaching over 6,600 hm². However, there are serious issues such as excessive fertilizer application, over-reliance on chemical fertilizers, and broadcast spreading among tea farmers in Youyang. Therefore, choosing a reasonable and scientific fertilization model can provide a reference for improving tea yield and quality and establish an indicator system for high-quality and high-yield tea fertilization technology.

The experimental design study was conducted in 2025 in a mountainous tea garden in Jiandian Village, Livable Township, Youyang Autonomous County, where the growth conditions were relatively consistent (elevation 753 m, E108°34′2″, N28°50′54″). Field comparative experiments were carried out on three fertilization models: no fertilization, farmer's habitual fertilization, and optimized fertilization. The study aimed to analyze the yield, quality components, and economic benefits of Spring Tea under different fertilization models, providing theoretical guidance for tea farmers to apply fertilizers scientifically and reasonably.

Tea leaves were harvested according to the standard of one Bud and one leaf from March to April 2025. All fresh leaves from each treatment plot (plot area 18 m²) were weighed and counted for yield. The density of new shoots and the mass of 100 buds were surveyed during each harvest.

The fresh leaves were mixed uniformly, then microwave-killed and dried at 60 °C until constant weight. The samples were ground and sieved for testing. The contents of tea polyphenols, free amino acids, and elements N, P, K were determined in the samples.

Result Analysis

1. Impact of different fertilization treatments on the yield of spring tea leaves

The yield of spring tea leaves in 2025 was separately calculated for early (mid-March), mid (late March to early April), and late (mid-April) harvest periods. The results showed that the two fertilization models increased yields by 2.5% and 19.3%, respectively, compared to no fertilization. The optimized fertilization model increased yields by 16.5% compared to farmer's habitual fertilization, but the increase was mainly observed during the mid-spring tea period.

2. Impact of different fertilization treatments on the density and mass of spring tea shoots and buds Farmer's habitual fertilization treatment increased the mass of 100 buds but decreased the density of shoots and buds, affecting the yield of spring tea. In contrast, the optimized fertilization model significantly increased the density of shoots and buds while maintaining the mass of 100 buds, which had a clear promoting effect on the yield of spring tea, especially during the mid-spring period.

3. Impact of different fertilization treatments on the nutrient content of spring tea shoots and buds

From the nutrient content of N, P, K in spring tea shoots and buds, fertilization could increase the N content but did not significantly affect the P and K content.

4. Impact of different fertilization treatments on the absorption and utilization efficiency of N, P, K nutrients in spring tea shoots and buds

Compared to no fertilization, the accumulation of N, P, K in spring tea shoots and buds increased after fertilization, especially under the optimized fertilization model, although there was no significant difference. Compared to farmer's habitual fertilization, the optimized fertilization model increased the absorption of N, P, K, but again without a significant difference.

5. Impact of different fertilization models on the quality components of spring tea shoots and buds From the quality components of spring tea shoots and buds, the optimized fertilization model could increase the total amount of free amino acids and decrease the phenol-amino acid ratio compared to farmer's habitual fertilization, which helps improve the quality of Green Tea, particularly during the later spring period.

6. Impact of different fertilization models on the economic benefits of spring tea

The net income decreased by 16,300 RMB per hm² due to the insignificant increase in yield with farmer's habitual fertilization; however, the net income increased by 7,400 RMB per hm² with the optimized fertilization model. Although the costs of fertilizers and processing increased compared to farmer's habitual fertilization, the cost of fertilizers decreased by 4,600 RMB per hm² due to reduced fertilizer application. Combined with the increased yield, the overall economic benefits increased by 23,700 RMB per hm².

Discussion

This study shows that compared to farmer's habitual fertilization, the optimized fertilization model increased the yield of spring tea by 16.5% while reducing the application of chemical fertilizers by 78.6%. It improved the density of shoots and buds, the total amount of free amino acids, and decreased the phenol-amino acid ratio, especially showing a clear yield and quality improvement during the mid-spring period. It achieved a net income increase of 23,700 RMB per hm². This model effectively corrected unreasonable fertilization habits among tea farmers, such as over-reliance on chemical fertilizers and shallow application of base fertilizers. It solved the problem of excessive use of chemical fertilizers by tea farmers, reduced surface pollution, and improved soil quality. Therefore, the “organic fertilizer + tea tree-specific compound fertilizer” model has obvious advantages and is worth promoting and applying.

This article is excerpted from “China Tea,” Issue 8, 2025, pp. 55-58, “Effects of Reduced Chemical Fertilizer Application with Organic Fertilizer on Spring Tea Yield, Quality, and Economic Benefits,” by authors Liu Jibo, Qian Shanben, Liu Yuhan, Ran Lu, Peng Daxu, Huang Xiudong, Ran Youqiong, Ma Lifeng*, et al.

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