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A mammoth amount of tea pruning litter (TPL) is generated through the pruning of the tea plant and kept on the soil surface which makes the soil sick due to the accretion of allelochemicals from it. Therefore, appropriate management of TPL is very much crucial. This study was conducted to assess the role of tea pruning litter biochar (TPLBC) as a soil conditioner towards the growth and regulations of two popularly grown tea cultivars (TV23 and S.3A/3) in India. Altogether twenty-nine (29) parameters comprising functional groups, plant biomass, and physiological and biochemical properties have been reported in this study to understand the feasibility of TPLBC for tea cultivation. TPLBC amendment of 400 kg ha−1 was best suited for the used cultivars, leading to an increase in chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and water use efficiency by 25.68%, 49.61%, 84.00%, 126.93%, and 3.87% respectively. The maximum increase in plant total biomass, shoot biomass, and root biomass was attended at 110%, 31%, and 117%, respectively at 400 kg TPLBC ha−1 over control. The results also revealed an increase in the content of sugar, starch, phenol, total polyphenol, and amino acids with an increasing dose of TPLBC up to 400 kg ha−1. However, with 500 kg ha−1 TPLBC, plant biomass, and polyphenol content were decreased but oxidative stress was increased. Considering all the 29 variables it can be concluded that the soil amendment with 400 kg TPLBC ha−1 was most promising for both TV23 and S.3A/3 clones. [Display omitted] • The first report of tea pruning litter biochar (TPLBC) in improving soil fertility. • TPLBC reduced soil sickness, thus impacting the growth and yield of tea plants. • 400 kg TPLBC ha−1 proved to be the best treatment based on 29 variables. • Application of more than 400 kg TPLBC ha−1 was found to be unsuitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field study was conducted from 0 to 360 days to investigate the effect of tea pruning litter biochar (TPLBC) on the accumulation of major micronutrients (copper: Cu, manganese: Mn, and zinc: Zn) in soil, their uptake by tea plant (clone: S.3 A/3) and level of contamination in soil due to TPLBC. To evaluate the level of contamination due to TPLBC, a soil pollution assessment was carried out using the geo-accumulation index (I geo), enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (CF), potential ecological risk factor (PERF), individual contamination factor (ICF), and risk assessment code (RAC). The total content of Cu, Mn, and Zn gradually increased with increasing doses of TPLBC at 0D, and then decreased with time. The fractionation of the three micronutrients in soil changed after the application of TPLBC. The contamination risk assessment of soil for Cu, Mn, and Zn based on the I geo , EF , CF , PERF , ICF , and RAC suggested that the application of TPLBC does not have any adverse effect on soil. Except for Mn, the bioconcentration and translocation factors were less than one for Cu and Zn. Results from this study revealed that the application of 400 kg TPLBC ha−1 is significantly better than the other treatments for Cu, Mn, and Zn at a 5% level of significance. [Display omitted] • Tea pruning litter biochar (TPLBC) is an enriched source of Cu, Mn and Zn. • TPLBC influenced Cu, Mn and Zn availability for tea plants. • TPLBC reduced the contamination risk of Cu, Mn and Zn in soil. • Amendments markedly influenced the translocation of Cu, Mn and Zn. • 400 kg TPLBC ha−1 is promising for all micronutrients at 5% level of significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]