Effects of Intercropping of Aromatic Plants with Tea on Physicochemical Properties and Soil Nutrients in Tea Plantation

To investigate the effects of intercropping aromatic plants on soil physical properties and soil nutrients in tea plantation, intercropping Agastache rugose, Salvia japonica, Dianthus barbatus, Phlox drummondii and Saponaria officinalis were selected to carry out the experiment. Surface soil samples in different depth were collected in June and October to determine the soil physical properties and soil nutrients. The results indicate that intercropping aromatic plants reined in the decrease of soil pH and increased the soil moisture significantly. The changes of soil nutrients were obvious at different stages. The contents of soil organic matter, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium of the tea plantation intercropped with aromatic plants decreased in June as plants grow rapidly, while the contents increased significantly in October compared with those in monocropping system. This suggests that aromatic plants compete with tea tree for soil nutrients in growth period. As time goes on, longterm intercropping aromatic plants can increase soil nutrient contents and improve the soil ecosystems of tea plantation. By the comprehensive analysis of the soil physical properties and soil nutrients, we consider that intercropping Phlox drummondii, Saponaria officinalisaromatic and Dianthus barbatus will be beneficial to the tea production.