Comparative research on monitoring methods for nitrate nitrogen leaching in tea plantation soils.

Great concern has long been raised about nitrate leaching in cropland due to its possible environmental side effects in ground water contamination. Here we employed two common techniques to measure nitrate leaching in tea plantation soils in subtropical China. Using drainage lysimeter as a reference method, the adaptability of estimating drainage and nitrate leaching by combining the water balance equation with the suction cup technique was investigated.

Transcriptomic and ionomic analysis provides new insight into the beneficial effect of Al on tea roots' growth and nutrient uptake.

Transcriptome profiling of roots indicated that genes involved in cell wall modification, cytoskeleton, H exchange and K influx played important roles in tea root growth under Al addition. Tea (Camellia sinensis) is considered as an Al accumulator species. It can accumulate a high concentration of Al in mature leaves without any symptom of toxicity, even improve roots' growth and nutrient uptake.