Kohima: A multi-year study by Nagaland University tracks how shifting weather impacts tea plantations. Scientists monitored five estates in Jorhat, Assam, from 2016 to 2019. They focused on soil microbes and enzyme activity. Data show these biological factors shift alongside seasonal climate changes.
The team combined microbiological and biochemical data with advanced statistics. They used principal component analysis to explain over 80 percent of biological variability. These findings appear in the journal Environments. Experts say soil bacteria and fungi serve as early warning signs for environmental shifts.
Prof. Tanmoy Karak of the Nagaland University Department of Soil Science served as a co-author. He noted that the team worked to identify specific seasonal thresholds for beneficial microbes. Karak stated, “The study establishes soil microbial communities and enzyme activities as sensitive indicators of environmental change and sustainable tea production.”
Nagaland University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Jagadish Kumar Patnaik lauded the work. He believes these insights will help farmers build climate-resilient crops. The research team included members from the Tea Research Association, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, and several global universities.
Scientists expect these results to aid in soil health monitoring. Tea growers can now use these biological indicators to manage nutrients. Policymakers have a new toolkit. This evidence helps plan for a more stable tea sector in Northeast India.
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