What effects does waterlogging damage have on the growth and development of tea plants?

Tea plants require moist air conditions, but they are not tolerant of excessively wet soil. When there is too much soil moisture or even standing water on the ground, the respiration of the root system is impeded, and its ability to absorb water and nutrients is reduced, seriously affecting the growth of buds and leaves and lowering the yield and quality of fresh leaves. In severe cases, the roots suffocate, anaerobic microorganisms become active, and organic acids are produced that poison the tea plant roots, causing peeling, necrosis and rot.

The manifestations of tea plants suffering from waterlogging damage are: few absorbing roots, short and small lateral roots, a shallow root layer, and some lateral roots extending horizontally rather than downward, or even growing upward. In severely waterlogged conducting roots, the bark is not brownish-red but black, not smooth, with many small protrusions. The above-ground part has few branches, sparse buds and leaves, and slow or even halted growth; the branches turn white, the leaves turn yellow, the plant is short, the growth vigor is weak, it is prone to many diseases, the yield is low, and the quality is poor. The order in which damage occurs is: the fine roots deep in the soil are damaged first; somewhat later, the shallower fine roots also begin to be damaged; the surface of the coarse roots turns black; then the fine roots begin to rot; the interior of the coarse roots turns black; and finally the coarse roots die completely. Because the root system is damaged and loses its ability to absorb water, the life activities of the above-ground part of the plant are affected. Initially, the young leaves lose their luster and turn yellow; then the bud tips droop and shrivel; and finally the mature leaves lose their luster, wither and fall off. If drainage is carried out only after obvious damage symptoms appear on the above-ground part, it is often impossible to save the plant because the underground root system has already suffered severe damage.

The severity of waterlogging damage to tea plants is closely related to the duration of excessive soil moisture. Based on the number of days of excessive soil moisture and the symptoms on the above-ground part, the degree of damage to the underground roots can be judged, and drainage measures can be taken in time.

Waterlogging damage to tea plants mostly occurs in water-accumulating areas at the foot of mountains, so corresponding measures should be taken according to the causes of the waterlogging damage, such as breaking up the impermeable layer, leveling the land, and digging open ditches and blind ditches.