Objective Fertility of plantation soil at the tea-producing townships in Fuding City was analyzed and evaluated to better the fertilization practice in the area.

Method A field survey and soil sampling were conducted at 15 villages in 5 townships of Fuding City. Contents of organic matter, and total alkaline hydrolysable nitrogen, and total available phosphorus, and total available potassium, as well as pH of the soils were analyzed. The fertility level of all plantations was aslo evaluated.

Result The pH of the soil sampled at various plantations was lowest at 4.05～4.29 and largely adequate for the growth of tea plants. The organic matter contents ranging 11.22～79.05 g·kg⁻¹ met the Grade I standard for all sites except some at Bailin and Guanyang. The total nitrogen of 0.68～2.43 g·kg⁻¹ was considered at an upper-medium level in all plantations, while the content of alkaline hydrolysable nitrogen at low level. The content of total phosphorus at various plantations ranged 0.08～1.03 g·kg⁻¹, which met Grade I standard for all sites except some at Diantou township. The available phosphorus at the sites varied significantly between 4.44 mg·kg⁻¹ and 91.43 mg·kg⁻¹. It was at the Grade Ⅲ standard, at 40.70% Taimushan tea plantations, manifesting as insufficient supply of available phosphorus. More than 90% tea garden soils met the Grade I standard with the total content potassium exceeding 10 g·kg⁻¹. The greatest available potassium of 221.95 mg·kg⁻¹ were found at Panxi.

Conclusion The overall fertility levels in the soils at the surveyed Fuding tea plantations was adequate. But a shortage of alkaline hydrolysable nitrogen and available potassium at certain localities needed to be adequately supplemented with proper fertilization.