Effect of genotypes in different tea-growing locations in Kenya on some micronutrients content of black tea.

Abstract

Human beings and plants require essential elements for normal physiological functions and survival. Tea beverages are the most widely consumed fluids after water. If the beverages have appreciable levels of micronutrients, they could contribute to the alleviation of micronutrients deficiencies in human beings. Different tea cultivars/clones have been developed and distributed to farmers in various locations for production of the tea beverages. However it remains obscure the levels of the essential elements in their resultant black teas. This study evaluated the levels of some micronutrients different tea clones planted in a single site and determined if the levels of the micronutrients varied in the same pattern when same clones were planted in different regions in Kenya under similar agronomic inputs. The clones varied significantly (P<0.05) in their micronutrient levels even when planted in a single location showing that clones different abilities to absorb the micronutrients from the soil. The patterns of variations were different when the clones were planted in different locations. It is therefore clear that environmental factors of growth have an influence in the ability of the clones to absorb the micronutrients. Thus, it is necessary to identify region specific clones that can absorb the micronutrients in the region to optimize the micronutrient content of resultant black teas.