Journal of Tea Science Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.5, 273-284 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/jtsr 280 In addition to these molecular techniques, there is a growing interest in leveraging naturally evolved traits and transformative engineering to address the challenges posed by climate change. Genetic strategies that focus on enhancing the sustainability and resilience of tea plants are crucial for ensuring consistent crop production in the face of biotic and abiotic stresses (Bailey-Serres et al., 2019). These innovations not only promise to improve tea yield and quality but also contribute to the broader goal of sustainable agriculture by reducing the dependency on chemical inputs and enhancing the ecological balance of tea plantations. Figure 3 Variations in diversity indexes of the soil macrofauna (above) and mesofauna (below) observed in agroecological and conventional tea plantations. Average values for 10 samples per site group. Lower-case letters indicate a difference in abundance (individuals/m2±SD for soil macrofauna and individuals/100 g fresh soil ± SD for mesofauna), richness and Shannon diversity (mean±SD) between management practices at significance <0.05 level, while capital letters indicate the differences between soil mesofauna extraction methods at significance <0.05 level (Adopted from Le et al., 2023) Image caption: The results show that soil animal density, species richness, and Shannon index in agroecological tea plantations were significantly higher than those in conventional plantations. Notably, in agroecologically converted tea gardens, the macrofauna density reached 86 individuals/m2, and the mesofauna density was 129 individuals/100 g of soil. These findings indicate the ability of agroecological management to enhance soil ecosystem health and functionality (Adapted from Le et al., 2023) 7.2 Emerging trends in sustainable agriculture Sustainable agriculture is becoming increasingly important in tea cultivation, with a focus on practices that enhance soil health, reduce environmental impact, and improve economic efficiency. Agroecological management practices have been shown to significantly improve soil health indicators and increase the net income of tea farmers, despite lower yields compared to conventional methods (Li et al., 2023). These practices include the use of organic fertilizers and the optimization of nutrient management, which have been demonstrated to improve both the yield and quality of tea while reducing greenhouse gas emissions (Zhu et al., 2024). The role of soil microorganisms in sustainable tea production is gaining attention as well. The diversity and functions of soil microbial communities are crucial for nutrient cycling, pest control, and bioremediation, all of which contribute to improved tea yield and quality (Jibola-Shittu et al., 2024). By harnessing these natural processes, tea producers can reduce their reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, thereby promoting a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to tea cultivation.
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