In Kenya, foliar
fertilizers have not found use in tea production despite their numerous advantages
as exhibited in other crops. A fertilizer trial test was established in three
sites of the major tea growing regions, with 36 plots per site to determine the
effects of foliar fertilizer application on tea quality. Two foliar fertilizers
were tested; foliar fertilizer 1 (FF1) and foliar fertilizer 2 (FF2), with a
positive control of soil fertilizer (SF) and a blank. Two leaves and a bud tea
samples were collected every two weeks after each foliar fertilizer
application. These were then analyzed for tea quality (total polyphenols, TP),
nutrient residues for the different clones and geographical locations. The TP
contents for clone TRFK 31/8 were as follows: FF1 = 17.8%, FF2 = 17.9%, SF = 16.56%
and Zero = 17.4%. Tukey-Kramer pair wise comparison test results between the
foliar fertilizers and SF showed that the FF1 (HSD = 4.78) and FF2 (HSD = 5.27)
fertilizers had significantly (P < 0.05) higher levels of TP content as
compared to control SF fertilizer. Nutrients analyzed had average means as
follows: N = 4% - 5%, P = 0.25% - 0.28%, K = 1.35% - 1.69%, Ca = 0.3 - 0.5 ppm,
Mg = 0.19 - 0.27 ppm, Mn = 0.05 - 0.13 ppm, Zn = 25 - 40.5 ppm, Cu = 11 - 17 ppm
and Fe = 72 - 122 ppm. The nutrient residue levels had non-significantly
statistical differences at P < 0.05 level between pairs of zero applied
plots and the FF1, FF2 and SF applied plots respectively. It was concluded that
the foliar fertilizers increased the TP content in tested tea samples and the
nutrients analyzed were all within the dietary reference intake (DRI) levels
for SF, FF1 and FF2. Overall, the foliar fertilizer increased the quality of
the tested tea samples.