Proper Management Measures for Tea Gardens in Tea Cultivation

1. Tea gardens newly planted this spring

1. Timely replenishment of water according to weather conditions. Recently, our county has had high temperatures and little rain, which is extremely unfavorable to the growth of tea seedlings. Water should be replenished in time to resist drought and ensure the successful establishment of the tea garden. When replenishing water, avoid high temperatures and strong sunlight, and do it in the early morning and evening.

2. Reasonable intercropping. Reasonable intercropping in wide rows is conducive not only to soil moisture conservation but also to improving land utilization. However, tall-stalk and vine crops must not be intercropped, and the density should be properly controlled, preferably not exceeding two rows.

3. Timely weeding. Dense weeds easily compete for water and fertilizer and also easily breed pests and diseases, which is unfavorable to the growth of tea seedlings.

4. Mulching with grass to conserve moisture. Cover the exposed tea rows with a thickness of no less than 5 cm, which is conducive to soil moisture conservation, increases soil organic matter, and also prevents the growth of weed seedlings.

5. Reasonable fertilization (1) In mid-to-late August, timely apply “drought fertilizer” to promote the growth of tea seedlings; (2) Apply base fertilizer heavily. From late September to late October, the amount of fertilization should be increased and farmyard manure and organic fertilizer should be the main types. The fertilization amount is 50 loads of night soil per mu (should not be too dilute), or 150 jin of cake fertilizer per mu plus 100 jin of potassium sulfate compound fertilizer, or 1500 jin to 2000 jin of cow manure.

6. Control flowers and fruits. Because cutting seedlings are propagated from branches taken from mature tea trees, they are prone to early flowering and early fruiting. Flower buds must be removed in time to avoid consuming nutrients and inhibiting the growth of tea seedlings. In addition to manual removal, ethephon can also be sprayed before flowering to promote early abscission of flower buds.

7. Pest and disease control. According to the pest and disease information from our county's pest and disease forecasting station, grasp the control period and carry out timely control of pests and diseases that frequently occur in our county, such as the false-eye small green leafhopper, tea caterpillar, tea slug moth, tea aphid, tea anthracnose, and tea blister blight.

8. Formative pruning. According to many years of climate data, the winter temperature in areas below 800 m altitude in our county is relatively warm, so in early November, pruning can be carried out for those that meet the requirements for the second formative pruning, with a height of 30—35 cm being appropriate.

2. Other tea gardens

1. Seize the opportunity to pick autumn tea according to market conditions;

2. Young tea gardens with large exposed areas between tea rows must strengthen drought resistance;

3. Pest and disease control. According to the pest and disease information from our county's pest and disease forecasting station, grasp the control period and carry out timely control of pests and diseases that frequently occur in our county, such as the false-eye small green leafhopper, tea caterpillar, tea slug moth, tea aphid, tea anthracnose, and tea blister blight.

4. Apply base fertilizer heavily. The period is from late September to late October, and farmyard manure and organic fertilizer should be the main types. The fertilization amount is 50—100 loads of night soil per mu (should not be too dilute), or 200 jin of cake fertilizer per mu plus 150 jin of potassium sulfate compound fertilizer, or 2000 jin—3000 jin of cattle shed manure.

5. Light pruning. Tea gardens below 800 m altitude should be pruned in late autumn, and tea gardens above 800 m altitude should be pruned in early spring after the soil thaws to avoid frost damage.