Abstract

A comparative study of organic and conventional farming system at three different slope sections was conducted in Sabah Tea Plantation to determine the effect of management practices and slope section on soil nitrogen, phosphorus and pH as well as tea leaves size. Soils from two selected fields; B29 (conventional field) and NO3 (organic field) in Sabah Tea Plantation were analyzed using selected soil analysis method with UV spectrophotometer. Organic farming system resulted in significantly higher level of soil pH (4.14), leaf length (15.14 cm) and leaf width (7.33 cm) than conventional farming system soil pH (3.38), leaf length (13.19 cm) and leaf width (5.58 cm). However, conventional farming system produced higher levels of ammonium content (166.16 µg ml^-1) than organic farming system (22.56 µg ml¹). No significant difference in soil Phosphorus and nitrate content were observed between two farming systems. Results also showed no significant effects of slope sections on all parameters studied. This study has provided basic knowledge on soil Nnitrogen, phosphorus as well as tea growth of organic and conventional farming in Sabah Tea Plantation.

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