Tea plants are continuously harvested, which leads to a significant loss of nutrients in the plant. During the hot summer months, the soil becomes compacted, weeds grow densely, and the soil's strength decreases, making it more vulnerable to pests and diseases, all of which negatively impact the plant's normal growth. To restore the vitality and health of the tea plants during this challenging period, effective management of the tea garden is essential. Here are some key measures that should be taken:
First, proper weeding and soil loosening are crucial. The depth of tilling should be around 10 cm under the tea tree canopy and 20 cm outside the drip line. All stones, weeds, and grasses must be removed to break up the soil clods and improve soil aeration. This helps enhance the soil’s ability to retain and supply water and nutrients, promoting faster soil maturation and creating a soft, fertile layer that supports early tea plant growth.
Second, timely fertilization combined with weeding and soil loosening is important. A small ditch about 13 cm deep should be dug along the outer edge of the tea tree canopy, and fertilizer should be applied deeply. After applying the fertilizer, the soil should be covered immediately. In summer, the topdressing ratio should follow N:P:K = 4:3:2. For example, approximately 15 kg of urea, 11.25 kg of superphosphate or calcium magnesium, and 7.5 kg of potassium chloride per mu can be used, depending on the chemical fertilizer's pure content.
Third, pruning the summer tea tree crown is essential. The goal is to maintain a rounded shape while removing unwanted branches such as "chicken claw" branches, overly dense branches, leggy branches, cluster branches, withered branches, and pest-infested branches. This promotes the growth of lateral branches and new leaves, improving air circulation within the crown and increasing the production of carbohydrates, which leads to higher yields. The cutting length for lateral branches should be 1-2 cm, while for the main trunk and branches, it should be 2-3 cm. It is important to remove the pruned material from the tea garden and burn it to prevent the spread of pests and diseases.
Fourth, pest and disease control is critical during the summer season. The main diseases to watch out for are tea cake disease and tea bud blight, while the primary pests include tea red spider mites and tea caterpillars. Tea cake disease affects the shoots and leaves, causing sunken lesions on the leaf surface and grayish-white spores on the back. Infected leaves are fragile and bitter, reducing the quality of the final product. To control it, spray a 0.2–0.5% copper sulfate solution every 7 days. For tea bud blight, which affects young shoots, the leaves become distorted, discolored, and scorched. Prevention involves spraying 70% thiophanate-methyl at a rate of 75–100 grams per acre mixed with 1500 times water, repeated every 7 days. For tea worms and caterpillars, use 90% wettable powder of dipterex at 100–150 grams per acre, diluted in clean water, and apply it every 5–7 days.
Smart Factory
Smart Factory
Automated Precision Inc. , https://www.apiasean.com