Progress and perspective on intercropping patterns in tea plantations
Xiaogang Lei, Ting Wang, Bin Yang, Yu Duan, Lin Zhou, Zhongwei Zou, Yuanchun Ma, Xujun Zhu, Wanping Fang
Abstract
Intercropping, as one of complex ecological cultivations, is an important tea plantation pattern. Compared to sole-cropping tea plantations, intercropping can improve the above- and below-ground environment, which is beneficial to tea plant growth, the formation of high tea quality and the increase of tea yield. In this review, we summarized these impacts of intercropping on the tea plantation environment (microclimate, biomass, soil nutrients, microorganisms and heavy metals), tea plants growth and tea yield. Then we analyzed how intercropping affects the growth and metabolism of tea plants based on the impact of intercropping on the environment. As a result, the achievements and progress of tea plantation intercropping are summarized, the remained problems of the current research on intercropping tea plantations are highlighted, and provide new sights for the advanced research of intercropping in tea plantations.