Foliar Nutrient Concentrations and Antioxidant Activity of Tea (Camellia sinensis L. (O) Kuntze) Planted in Peninsular Malaysia and its Relation to Soil Edaphic Factors

This study aimed to (1) Compare the nutritional characteristics and AOA (antioxidant activity) of clonal tea grown in lowland and highland plantations and (2) Investigate the influence of soil edaphic factors on tea foliar nutrition and AOA. Tea leaves and soils of fourteen tea clones were sampled between October 2021 to March 2022 from lowland and highland plantations in Peninsular Malaysia. Leaves were analysed for nutritional content and antioxidant activity, while soil samples underwent physical and nutritional analysis. Results showed significant variations in most foliar nutrients, except for Ca in the lowlands and Fe in the highlands. While the highland-grown tea exhibited higher nutrient concentration, lowland-grown tea demonstrated superior AOA. AT53 and 1248 clones were identified as promising among the clones, characterized by the highest nutrients and AOA levels, respectively. Soil nutrient availability significantly influenced foliar nutrient uptake, while soil pH was associated with AOA. Thus, the critical role of soil edaphic factors in shaping tea quality, providing valuable insight for tea growers to optimize soil and maintain tea yield and quality in the future. We found that soil nutrients have a significant association with nutrient uptake, while soil pH is associated with the agronomic characteristics of tea.