Fertilizer nitrogen recovery in tea as influenced by nitrogen levels

A pot culture study was conducted to evaluate the fertilizer nitrogen (N) u tilization by young clonal tea plants, UPASI-3 [Camellia assamica ssp. assa mica (Masters) Wight] using N-15 labeled urea at varying levels. Out of ass imilated N, major proportion was partitioned to leaves followed by roots an d stem. Significant increase in the amount of fertilizer N uptake was obser ved with increasing levels of urea. Nitrogen absorption from the soil varie d with time; about 20% of applied N was absorbed within seven days while it went up to 30% after a fortnight. About 40, 55, and 67% of urea was retain ed in the soil when N was applied at 90, 180, and 270 kg ha(-1), respective ly. Loss of N ranged from 18 to 26%. Significant increase in nitrogenous co nstituents, like amino acids and chlorophyll, was also observed in response to varying levels of N and sampling time. Results generated on soil charac teristics are also presented and discussed.