• Crop Management
• Processing and Value Addition

Crop Management

• Climate & Soil
• Varieties
• Production of quality planting materials


• Cultivation Practices
• Pests
• Diseases
• Harvesting
• Organic Farming

Cultivation practices

Field preparation

In the case of new planting, in order to avoid the incidence of root diseases, after felling the trees, remove the root system to the extent possible. Clear the jungle growth but do not burn, the ash being alkaline will increase the pH.

In the case of replanting, remove old Grevillea (silver oak) after ring barking, leaving the young ones in the field. Level the land into an even slope to facilitate easy cultural operations and proper drainage.

Style of planting

The double hedge planting will accommodate more number of plants per unit area. Early high yield, better soil conservation, less weed growth, efficient cultural practices and better supervision are other advantages of double hedge planting.

Pitting

Planting seasons

Southwest monsoon areas: June-July
Northeast monsoon areas : September-October

Planting

If the soil pH is more than 5.5, apply 100 g of powdered aluminium sulphate per pit and thoroughly mix with soil. Select seedlings of 12 months old. After planting the seedling, compact the soil surrounding the plant and apply mulch at the rate of 25 t/ha. While mulching care should be taken to keep the mulch material away from the collar region of the plant by putting a peg above the plant on the slope. Wherever mulch material is a problem, intercrop or cover crop could be raised.

Nutrient management in main field

Manuring of young tea commences 2 months after planting. The ratio and source of nutrients vary according to soil reaction (pH).

Rates of fertilizer application for young tea in soils with pH below 4.5 are given below:

Apply phosphorus at 90 kg/ha every year in one application. The quantity of fertilizer per bush may be calculated assuming a population of 13,000 per ha.

Rates of application for soils with pH between 4.5 and 5.5 are as follows:

Apply phosphorus at 90 kg/ha every year in one application.

Rates of application for soils with pH above 5.5 are as follows (use water soluble P):

The rate of fertilizer application for mature tea varies with yield and soil test values while the N:K₂O ratio varies with the stage of pruning.

Method of application

Apply the recommended quantity of mixtures along the drip circle of plants. In the semi-circular furrow taken above the plant on the slope, using a Kokra-eyebrow method, apply the fertilizers when there is adequate soil moisture and when the fields are free from weeds. Punch holes of 15-22 cm depth in the soil on either side of the plants and place the rock phosphate.

Training of young tea

Proper training of young tea is essential to encourage good spread of the bushes, proper development of frames and high density of plucking points. Three to four months after planting, the apical dominance is arrested by cutting off the leader stem. This operation, called centering, promotes the axillary bud's growth and lateral branches are formed. For further lateral branch formation, good spread and establishment of plucking surface the growing branches are trained by two stage tipping. First tipping is carried out at 35 cm followed by second tipping at 50 cm.

Formative pruning (Branch formation pruning) is carried out at the end of five years after planting. The recommended pruning height for formative pruning is around 45 cm. At the time of formative pruning less than pencil size thick branches are removed.

Centering

Cut the leader stem of the plants with secateur to arrest the apical dominance and to induce the secondary branches. Cut as low as possible leaving 8-10 mature leaves below the cut. Ensure proper recovery. Centering should be done 4-6 months after planting during humid weather when there is adequate moisture in the soil.

Tipping

First plucking of the periodic shoot is done after centering / pruning. Two-tier tipping ensures proper spread. First tipping at 35 cm height will induce the tertiaries. Second tipping at 50 cm height will increase the density of plucking points. Tipping should be done at green, semi-hardwood branches. Tipping should be done in shoots having 3-4 leaves and a bud.

Plucking

Mother leaf / step-up plucking is practiced during lean seasons. Level plucking is done during high cropping months. This is essential for better frame development.

Shade management

The best permanent shade tree for tea plantation in South India is silver oak (Grevillea robusta).

Planting of silver oak

The silver oak can be propagated through seeds. The seeds should be sown within 6 months after collection. Seed should be sown in raised beds of 1 m width and of convenient length using sandy loam soil with a pH around 6.0. Seed should be covered with thin layer of sand / ash. Germination takes place in 2-3 weeks. Use 6-9 month old seedlings for planting. Plant along tea rows at a spacing of 6 x 6 m (275 plants/ha). Apply a mixture of 100 g rock phosphate and 400 g dolomite per pit and thoroughly mix with soil prior to planting. Apply NK mixture @ 100 g/tree twice in a year; rock phosphate at 250 g/tree and borated lime 1.1 kg (1 kg dolomite + 100 g boric acid) during alternate years.

Shade regulation

Tea requires only sparse shade. So retain optimum stand of shade based on the growth of the tree, altitude of the garden and aspect of the field (south and west slopes require more shade). Thin out shade initially to 12 x 6 m after 8-10 years of planting and if required further thinning may be done to 12 x 12 m at later stages (12 years from planting). Always thin out shade prior to pruning.

Pollarding

Cutting the main stem with the objective of developing lateral branches is pollarding. Commence pollarding when the trees attain a girth of around 50 cm at elbow level. Pollarding depends on altitude (8 m height for higher altitude, 9 m for low elevation). Leave one branch in each direction and 3 to 4 tiers of branches, below the pollarding height.

Annual lopping

Cutting the erect growing branches on the laterals is lopping, which should be done before the onset of monsoon and lop only the erect branches and retain the laterals.

Shade removal

Useful age of Grevillea is 40-60 years. Remove old trees after establishing new shade.

Temporary shade

For frost prone areas: Acacia mearnsii
For mid elevations: Indigofera teysmanii
For higher altitude: Sesbania cinerescens, Crotalaria agathiflora and Acacia elata

Planting at 3 x 3 m spacing is adopted. Temporary shade should be removed after establishment of Grevilliea after 3 years.

Pruning

Post-pruning care

Apply copper oxychloride or sulphur + linseed oil (1:1) to large cut-ends after rejuvenation and hard pruning.

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