The study was conducted to analyze soil chemical

microbial properties and enzyme activities in two tea gardens of Zhejiang Province. The results showed that soil acidification of tea gardens increased significantly with tea bush age. The majority of available N in soil was in the form of nitrate. Long-term tea cultivation resulted in the decrease of soil microbial biomass. Soil microbial metabolic quotient(R_(mic)/C_(mic)) in the two tea gardens were lower than these of control

and showed similar trend with increasing tea bush age. Changes in soil microbial quotient(C_(mic)/C_(org))may be a sensitive indicator of environmental stress of tea garden. Soil microbial quotient(C_(mic)/C_(org))of young tea orchard was higher than those of control and older tea orchard. Soil organic C

total N

available P

NH~ _4-N

NO~-_3-N

urease and acid phosphatase activities which were closely related to soil fertility responded in a consistent manner across tea bush age.