• 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.
02. Water requirement of the Tea Plants
• Survival of young plantation- Monthly supply of a liter of water per plant. 10-12 m3 per hectare.
• Establishing young tea plants- Dampening the area of the root system. Replace 50% of the water loss from the evapo-transpiration tank every 15 days.
• Intensive sparing- When there is a very severe dry season, replace all the water loss from the evaporation every 7 to 10 days.
• Adult tea plants- Replace 50% of the water loss from the evaporation tank every 15 days. Taking in to account any rainfall of more than 3 mm.
In regions with extensive dry seasons, shading trees play an important role in providing and maintaining sufficient humidity. Additionally, tea plantations in windy regions should also be protected by windbreaks, to reduce the intensity of evapo-transpiration. Sufficient drainage and aeration of the soil can be lastingly and economically achieved with the combination of shading trees, deep-rooting green manure plants, mulching and pruning of tea plants.
• Establishing young tea plants- Dampening the area of the root system. Replace 50% of the water loss from the evapo-transpiration tank every 15 days.
• Intensive sparing- When there is a very severe dry season, replace all the water loss from the evaporation every 7 to 10 days.
• Adult tea plants- Replace 50% of the water loss from the evaporation tank every 15 days. Taking in to account any rainfall of more than 3 mm.
In regions with extensive dry seasons, shading trees play an important role in providing and maintaining sufficient humidity. Additionally, tea plantations in windy regions should also be protected by windbreaks, to reduce the intensity of evapo-transpiration. Sufficient drainage and aeration of the soil can be lastingly and economically achieved with the combination of shading trees, deep-rooting green manure plants, mulching and pruning of tea plants.
01.1 Drought tolerant Tea varieties
China tea (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis) is especially suited to hilly regions. It is resistant to drought, and can tolerate short periods of frost (yet has a low tolerance of shade). Contrastingly, Assam tea (Camellia sinensis var. assamica) is a purely tropical crop, and reacts sensitively to drought and cold (yet has a high tolerance of shade).
01. Introduction
Water plays a major role in tea plantations. Tea yield is greatly influenced by weather, and especially by droughts, which cause irreparable losses because irrigation is seldom used on tea plantations. At the other extreme, heavy rains erode top soil and wash away fertilizers and other chemicals. Optimum of 2000-2200 mm of rainfall should be distributed evenly throughout the year. A minimum of 1400 mm of rain is required but tea can grow adequately with less rainfall in areas with frequent mists and low clouds or under irrigation. Relative humidity should lie between 70 and 90%.
Table of Contents
01.1 Drought tolerant Tea varieties
02. Water requirement of the Tea Plants
03. Irrigation to the Tea Field
03.1 Types of Irrigation Methods
04. Shading and Wind Breaks
05. Mulching
06. Pruning
07. Other Practices
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