Journal of Tea Science Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.5, 273-284 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/jtsr 276 enhancing soil nutrient transformation, which further supports tea plant growth (Zhang et al., 2023c). However, while pruning increases yield, it may negatively impact tea quality by reducing the content of quality-related compounds like polyphenols and amino acids (Zhang et al., 2023a; 2023b). Despite its benefits for yield, pruning can lead to a reduction in tea quality. The decrease in quality is attributed to changes in the soil's microbial community and nutrient cycle, which affect the synthesis and accumulation of quality-related compounds in tea leaves (Zhang et al., 2023a). Therefore, while pruning is beneficial for increasing yield, it requires careful management to balance yield and quality, ensuring that the benefits of increased production do not come at the expense of tea quality. Figure 1 Transcriptome mechanism analysis of effects of pruning on growth and quality of tea plants (Adopted from Zhang et al., 2023b) Image caption: The figure illustrates the comprehensive effects of pruning on the growth and quality of tea plants. Pruning significantly enhanced the gene expression of pathways related to fatty acid synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, and plant hormone signal transduction, thereby increasing leaf area, chlorophyll content, and yield. However, pruning inhibited pathways associated with secondary metabolite synthesis (e.g., flavonoid and phenylpropanoid metabolism), leading to a decrease in caffeine, flavonoid, and free amino acid contents, ultimately affecting tea quality. The results indicate that while pruning promotes tea plant growth, it reduces tea quality by limiting the accumulation of secondary metabolites, highlighting the trade-off between yield and quality management strategies (Adapted from Zhang et al., 2023b) 4.2 Fertilizer application and management Fertilizer application, particularly nitrogen, is a critical factor in tea cultivation, directly affecting yield and quality. Long-term nitrogen fertilization has been shown to increase tea yield and amino acid content, although it can decrease total polyphenol content, which is crucial for tea quality (Ma et al., 2021). The optimal nitrogen application rates for maximizing yield and quality have been identified, but excessive nitrogen can lead to soil degradation and reduced microbial diversity (Ma et al., 2021; Hu et al., 2024). Reducing chemical fertilizer use and adopting alternative fertilization strategies can maintain or even enhance tea yield while improving soil quality. For instance, using tea-specific formula fertilizers or organic substitutions has been shown to increase yield and improve nutrient use efficiency without significantly compromising tea quality (Hu et al., 2024). These strategies not only support sustainable tea production but also enhance the economic benefits for farmers by reducing input costs and improving net income.
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