Abstract: Anxi is the largest producing area of Tie Guanyin tea in China. “The cultural system of Tie Guanyin tea in Anxi” was selected as “Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems” (China-NIAHS) in 2014. Tea gardens in this region are organic, ecological or non-ecological. After sampling the soil in these three kinds of tea gardens, we compared soil properties and nutrient content at different soil depths using physical and chemical analyses. Our aim was to provide a scientific basis for the management of tea plantations. We measured and analyzed soil in two organic, three ecological and one non-ecological tea gardens at depths of 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm in Anxi County. According to Duncan multiple comparisons and t tests, soil nutrients differed between organic and ecological or non-ecological tea gardens at 0–10 cm. Organic matter and total nitrogen differed between organic and nonecological tea garden soils at 10–20 cm. In organic tea gardens, soil bulk density, porosity, relative water content...