• Physiology of Tea [PDF], Available at: http://www.communityipm.org/docs/Tea_Eco-Guide/04_Physiology.PDF
• Management of Tea, Available at: http://feppcar.org/10/management-of-tea-and-its-associated-forest-crops-for-sustainable-environmental-development-and-tea-production-in-bangladesh/
• Tea, Available at: http://www.infonet-biovision.org/default/ct/141/crops
• Tea Research [PDF], Available at: http://www.sab.ac.lk/Acade-Activity/Vol2_2/artical4.pdf
• Plant crops- Tea, Available at: http://www.krishiworld.com/html/plant_crops1.html
Sunday, July 11, 2010
07. Other Practices
• Green Manure plants- A crop grown before or between the main crop rows, cut before maturation and subsequently ploughed in or used as mulch. It provides nutrients to the main crop through decomposition and helps to build up humus in the soil. When tea is to be cultivated on terraces, the soil should be protected against drying out by green manure plants (such as weeping love grass- Eragrostis curvula).
• Apply Waxes- Waxes are applied on the leaves of the tender tea plants at the nursery level to prevent the drying of the plants during the hardening period.
• Spraying water at the nurseries- Soil in the sleeves should not be allowed to dry, so watering is done through the vents with a hosepipe. Plants must be watered as necessary and foliar feed applied weekly until they are transplanted.
• Polythene Sheets- At the nursery level, the cuttings are covered with the polythene to prevent leaves drying off.
• Apply Waxes- Waxes are applied on the leaves of the tender tea plants at the nursery level to prevent the drying of the plants during the hardening period.
• Spraying water at the nurseries- Soil in the sleeves should not be allowed to dry, so watering is done through the vents with a hosepipe. Plants must be watered as necessary and foliar feed applied weekly until they are transplanted.
• Polythene Sheets- At the nursery level, the cuttings are covered with the polythene to prevent leaves drying off.
06. Pruning
Pruning or the removing of the green plant parts of the tea plants are practiced during the long dry periods to prevent the transpiration loss from the tea leaves. This helps to reduce the drought stress of the plants.
05. Mulching
To prevent soil erosion, prevent evaporation and provide some shade for the young plants, Tephrosia candida, Crotalaria anagyroides or Crotalaria usaramoensis are often sown between the rows of tea. The cuttings of these leguminous plants or those of Guatemala grass (Tripsacum laxum), mana grass Cymbopogon confertiflorus, citronella Cymbopogon wintarianus, placed alongside the tea plants also serve to provide mulch for moisture conservation and to control erosion and weed growth.
Other crops, which can be used in a young tea plantation, include oats, Napier grass, water hyacinth or maize stalks. The mulch should not touch the stems of the tea, as this will encourage weevils and dusty brown beetles. Also it tends to get hot and can kill the tender stem tissues of the plant. Another advantage of mulching is the release of nutrients during decomposition of the mulch.
Other crops, which can be used in a young tea plantation, include oats, Napier grass, water hyacinth or maize stalks. The mulch should not touch the stems of the tea, as this will encourage weevils and dusty brown beetles. Also it tends to get hot and can kill the tender stem tissues of the plant. Another advantage of mulching is the release of nutrients during decomposition of the mulch.
04. Shading and Wind Breaks
• Planting of wind breaks- Wind breaks should be put in place facing the prevailing wind. A row of tea could also be allowed to grow up as a wind break, or depending on the size of the field, tall or short trees can be planted about 3 m apart. Useful tall trees include pine, cypress and grevillea. Shorter windbreaks include bananas, and the willow-leaved Hakea (Hakea salign).
• Shading- Shading trees are helped in conserving soil moisture during the driest part of the year, it possible that roots of young shade trees and tea would compete for available moisture in the top soil later. The use of shade trees is restricted to low altitudes; the most important are Falcataria moluccana (syn. Albizia falcata, Albizia falcataria, Paraserianthes falcataria), Leucaena leucocephala and the December tree Erythrina subumbrans. The nursery should be protected from the sun by a shade trellis made of bamboo or wood.
• Shading- Shading trees are helped in conserving soil moisture during the driest part of the year, it possible that roots of young shade trees and tea would compete for available moisture in the top soil later. The use of shade trees is restricted to low altitudes; the most important are Falcataria moluccana (syn. Albizia falcata, Albizia falcataria, Paraserianthes falcataria), Leucaena leucocephala and the December tree Erythrina subumbrans. The nursery should be protected from the sun by a shade trellis made of bamboo or wood.
03.1 Types of Irrigation Methods
• Drip irrigation- Water is applied in drops by drip irrigation system. Using this method it is possible to apply metered quantities of water uniformly and perhaps more frequently than sprinkler system.
• Subsurface irrigation- By using this system water is applied below the ground surface. Water can be introduced through open drains. Not suitable for dry periods.
• Overhead irrigation – This involves use of sprinklers to spray water in to the enable it to simulate rainfall. The spray is developed by the flow of water under pressure through nozzles.
• Sprinkler irrigation- Most common method of irrigation in tea. This system simulates natural rainfall.
• Subsurface irrigation- By using this system water is applied below the ground surface. Water can be introduced through open drains. Not suitable for dry periods.
• Overhead irrigation – This involves use of sprinklers to spray water in to the enable it to simulate rainfall. The spray is developed by the flow of water under pressure through nozzles.
• Sprinkler irrigation- Most common method of irrigation in tea. This system simulates natural rainfall.
03. Irrigation to the Tea Field
Irrigation must be provided to the tea plantation to reduce the water stress which occurs in the tea plants during the dry season. If terraces are dug in the field, they should be 1 m wide at 2 m vertical intervals and also have a 1:30 gradient for drainage. Irrigation should be provided to the loss amount by the evopo-transpiration. Irrigation of the tea plantations are carried out with the portable, semi-portable and permanent portable equipments consisting of pumps, pipes and sprinklers. The water must be analyzed before it is supplied to the field to check its chemical composition and to detect the presence of any toxic products or excess mineral salts.
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