Nickel dynamics influenced by municipal solid waste compost application in tea (Camellia sinensis L.): a cup that cheers

Abstract

Effects of municipal solid waste compost application on tea (Camellia sinensis L.) cultivation (Tocklai Vegetative clone 1 and Tocklai Vegetative clone 23) was studied with respect to biomass yield, soil nickel risk, nickel uptake and transfer to tea infusion. Application of municipal solid waste compost @ 2–6 t ha−1 in soil lowered the risk assessment code of nickel by increasing non-labile nickel pool. Reduced Ni translocation factor from root to stem to leaf led to low nickel accumulation in leaf indicating high nickel tolerance ability of tea. Tea infusions from Tocklai Vegetative clone 1 and Tocklai Vegetative clone 23 with municipal solid waste compost application in soil up to 10 t ha−1 showed leaf nickel contents below permissible limit, i.e., from 0.002 to 1.2 and 0.01 to 1.1 μg L−1, respectively. Municipal solid waste compost could therefore be a valuable alternative for soil amendment subject to non-enhancement of soil nickel storage on long-term use. The one-way analysis of variance along with Duncan’s multiple range tests showed significant differences between pair of treatments. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed formation of three different groups between the clones and treatments imposed.