Abstract:
To reveal the effects of soil physicochemical properties and selenium (Se) content on Se accumulation, quality, and safety in tea gardens, this study focused on 14 sets of soil and tea leaves from five typical tea gardens in Shouning, Fujian. The basic physicochemical properties, Se and heavy metal content of the soil were measured, and the Se, heavy metal, and quality components (water extracts, tea polyphenols, caffeine, and amino acids) content of the tea leaves were analyzed. The key influencing factors were identified through correlation analysis. The results showed that the total Se content in the soil of Shouning tea gardens ranged from 0.31 to 1.41 mg · kg ⁻¹, and 92.86% of the samples met the Se rich soil standard (DZ/T 0380-2021). However, there were significant differences in the available Se content of tea garden soils from different origins and varieties. The Se content in tea is 0.054-0.071 mg · kg ⁻¹, which is significantly positively correlated with soil available Se (r=0.658), and negatively correlated with soil total nitrogen, organic matter, and arsenic content. Correlation analysis shows that soil alkaline nitrogen is significantly positively correlated with Hg, Pb, As, and Cr in tea leaves, and significantly negatively correlated with water extracts; There is a significant positive correlation between available potassium and tea polyphenols, while there is a significant negative correlation between available phosphorus and tea polyphenols; At the same time, both total Se and available Se in soil were significantly positively correlated with As and Cr in tea leaves, but available Se was significantly negatively correlated with Cd in tea leaves. Shouning tea plantation has a soil resource foundation for Se rich tea production, but it is necessary to improve Se availability and tea quality by regulating soil pH and optimizing nitrogen phosphorus potassium ratios. In addition, the risk of synergistic migration of Se with As and Cr suggests the need to strengthen heavy metal monitoring and control in Se rich tea plantations.