Detailed Explanation of Tea Planting Techniques and Management Methods

I. Plot and Soil

Plot selection is the primary issue to consider in the process of tea plant cultivation. Generally speaking, the plot to be planted is selected by comprehensively examining the soil conditions required for tea plant growth, altitude, and terrain conditions. Regarding soil selection for tea planting, slightly acidic sandy soil with high humus content and a thick, fertile layer is preferred; this type of soil generally has relatively good aeration and drainage advantages.

Red soil, yellow soil, sandy loam, and brown forest soil are all suitable for tea plant growth. The soil structure requires good water retention and good water permeability. Within 1 m of the upper layer there should be no hardpan, and the soil is required to show an acidic reaction, with a pH value of 4.5-6.5 (4.5-5.5 is most suitable). The tea plant is a calcifuge plant, with a lime content below 0.2%, and the groundwater level below 1 m from the surface. The reason acidic soil is especially suitable for growing tea is first that acidic soil provides suitable conditions for the tea plant's own growth. The sap in the tea plant roots contains a variety of organic acids, which provides an ideal symbiotic environment for the root fungi that live symbiotically with the tea plant given by the soil, thereby improving the tea plant's nutritional and moisture conditions.

II. Balanced Fertilization

Fertilization management for tea planting mainly includes two steps: on one hand, the application of base fertilizer, and on the other hand, the application of topdressing. Tea farmers should choose the autumn season to dig soil trenches between the tea plants for fertilizer application, and Stanley pure sulfur-based 17-17-17 is recommended.

The most important principle for applying base fertilizer is to ensure the adequacy of the fertilizer. The ideal fertilization method is to apply biological fertilizer mixed with Stanley's pure sulfur-based fertilizer to enrich the soil's nutrient components. The topdressing work is concentrated in the early spring season when the tea plant sprouts, with urea as the first choice and organic fertilizer as a supplement. When filling and covering the soil, attention must be paid to the sufficiency and uniformity of mixing. In order to avoid the sinking of the soil trench, the covering fill soil should be spread higher than the ground line.

 III. Climatic Conditions
  a. Temperature: When the average daily temperature stabilizes above 10°C, tea buds begin to sprout and gradually extend. During the growing season, the monthly average temperature should preferably be above 18°C, and the most suitable temperature is [20~27]°C. The suitable annual effective accumulated temperature for growth is above 4000°C. If the average temperature is higher than 35°C for several consecutive days and is accompanied by drought, the branches and tips will appear withered.
  b. Light: The influence of light on the tea plant is mainly the intensity and nature of the light. The tea plant has shade-tolerant characteristics and prefers weak light exposure and diffused light. From the analysis of the chlorophyll absorption spectrum, the shorter-wavelength blue-violet light portion is the greatest, while diffused light is mainly the shorter-wavelength blue-violet light. Therefore, there is a basis for the tea plant growing well under diffused light conditions.
  c. Rainfall and humidity: The suitable rainfall for the tea plant is an annual average of 1000~2000 mm, the monthly rainfall during the growing season is above 100 mm, and the relative humidity is generally best at [80~90%]. The relative soil water content is preferably 70~80%. Such rainfall and humidity are most suitable for tea plant growth.