Comparative effect of different systems of farming on soil properties and productivity of tea in South India

Abstract

Tea, one of the world’s most widely consumed beverages, has undergone significant cultural and economic transformation over the past century, driven by increasing consumer demand for sustainable and high-quality production systems. Contemporary tea cultivation is primarily practiced under three farming systems: conventional, organic, and biodynamic. Unlike conventional and organic farming, biodynamic agriculture (BDA) adopts a holistic approach that integrates ecological processes and biological inputs to enhance soil fertility and crop productivity. This study compared conventional, organic, and biodynamic tea farming systems with respect to crop yield, soil physicochemical properties, and soil fertility, with particular emphasis on beneficial soil microflora. A long-term field experiment was conducted in the High Range region of Kerala, India, where each experimental block consisted of approximately 500 tea bushes. Yield was recorded during each plucking round, and soil samples were collected periodically for nutrient and microbial analyses. Results from the 20-year agronomic study showed that conventional farming produced the highest yield, recording a 33.8% increase over organic cultivation, while biodynamic farming achieved an 18.8% higher yield than the organic system. In contrast, organic and biodynamic systems supported significantly greater populations of beneficial soil microorganisms, largely due to the absence of synthetic chemical inputs. Enhanced microbial activity was associated with improved soil fertility and long-term soil health. Overall, the findings indicate that although conventional farming maximizes yield, biodynamic and organic systems promote a healthier soil ecosystem, with biodynamic farming providing a favorable balance between productivity and ecological sustainability.