Investigation and analysis of soil molybdenum in the Tieguanyin tea plantations of Fujian Province

The contents and the availabilities of molybdenum (Mo) in the surface soils and the Mo contents of the corresponding tea leaves of 133 Tieguanyin tea plantations in 14 major Tieguanyin tea-producing areas in Anxi，Huaan and Yongchun Counties of Fujian Province were investigated. The objective of the research was to determine soil molybdenum (Mo) supply capacities of Tieguanyin tea plantations in Fujian Province. The results show that the contents of total Mo in soils are from 0.29 to 23.17 mg/kg with an average of 2.41 mg/kg, and the contents are the highest in soils derived from diorite while those derived from sandstone are the lowest. The average of soil available Mo contents is only 0.17 mg/kg, which indicates that Mo deficiency is widespread in the tea plantation soils. The soil available Mo contents are significantly and positively correlated with the contents of 0.020.002 mm particles and soil total Mo contents, and the availability degrees of Mo (the ratio of available Mo to total Mo) are significantly and negatively correlated with the contents of ＜0.002 mm particles and are positively correlated with soil pH values. The Mo contents of the tea leaves are from 0.04 to 0.36 mg/kg with an average of 0.10 mg/kg. There are not significant correlation between the Mo contents of the tea leaves and soil available Mo contents. The soil available S contents are significantly and negatively correlated with the Mo contents of tea leaves. It is suggested that the Mo nutrition of the Tieguanyin tea plantations could be ameliorated through raising soil pH, reducing S fertilization and foliar application of Mo fertilizers.