Soil –
Tea requires well drained soil with high amount of organic matter and pH 4.5 to 5.5.
Climate-
The performance of tea is excellent at elevations ranging from 1000- 2500 m. Optimum
temperature is 20-27 o C.
The nursery soil should be well drained and deep loam in nature with pH of 4.5 to 4.8. The rooting medium should be tested for pH and free from nematode infestation.
Ammonium phosphate (20:20) 35 parts by Weight
Potassium sulphate 15 parts by Weight
(or) MOP 12 parts by Weight
Magnesium sulphate 15 parts by Weight
Zinc sulphate 3 parts by Weight
Total 80 parts by Weight
Single Hedge System
Planted at the spacing of 1.20 x 0.75 m accommodating 10,800 plants/ha.
Double Hedge System
Planted at the spacing of 1.35 x 0.75 x 0.75 m accommodating 13,200 plants/ha.
Manuring should be done 2 months after planting. Phosphorus should be applied at 80 – 100 kg/ha as rock phosphate once in a year by placement at 15 – 25 cm depth upto the first pruning and thereafter once in two years. N: K ratio of 2: 3 should be adopted for the
first 3 years and a ratio of 1: 1 thereafter may be followed.
Year of application kg/ha/year No. of applications g/plant/year
N K Ammonium Sulphate Urea
I year 180 270 5 13 27
II year 240 360 6 23 15
III year 300 450 6 29 18
IV year onwards 300 300 6 33 19
Application of fertilizers should be done before the onset of monsoon. Fertilizers should be broadcast around the drip circle avoiding contact with the collar.
Centering
To induce more laterals, centering should be done 3 – 5 months after planting. The main leader stem should be cut, leaving 8 – 10 matured leaves.
Tipping
First tipping at a height of 35 cm and second tipping at 60 cm respectively from ground level.
To maintain convenient height and vegetative growth and to remove dead and diseased branches, pruning is done.
Area to be pruned every year = Total extent of the garden/Pruning cycle
Pruning interval = (Elevation in feet / 1000) + 1
Pruning should be done in April – May and August – September respectively in S.W and NE monsoon areas.
Rejuvenation pruning
The whole bush should be cut near the ground level less than 30 cm with a view to rejuvenate the bushes.
Hard pruning
Formation pruning of young tea at 30 to 45 cm (12″ to 18″) for proper spread of bushes.
Medium pruning
To check the bush growing to an inconvenient height this type of pruning is done in order to stimulate new wood and to maintain the foliage at lower levels less than 60 cm.
Light pruning
Pruning depends on the previous history of the bush raising the height of medium pruning by an inch or less to manageable heights for plucking (less than 65 cm).
Skiffing
This is the lightest of all pruning methods. Remove the top 5 – 8 cm new growth to obtain a uniform level of pruning surface (more than 65 cm).
Shade regulation
Pollarding of shade trees should be done prior to heavy rains at a height of 8 – 10 m
from the ground level.
Annual lopping
Cutting the erect type branches on the laterals in shade trees before monsoon season.
Pests
1)Scales
Spray phosalone 2 ml/lit or quinalphos 25 EC 2 ml/lit or chlorpyriphos 20 EC 2 ml/lit.
2)Sahydrassis/Phassus borer
o Locate the particle mat covering at the base tea bush and remove
o Insert a thick wire in the bore hole to kill the larvae
3)Thrips
Spray any one of the following insecticide
Insecticide Dose
Azadirachtin 5 % Neem extract concentrate 5.0 ml/10 lit.
Azadirachtin 1.0 % EC (neem based) 2.0 ml/lit.
Ethion 50%EC 5.0 ml/10 lit.
Profenofos 50 % EC 2.0 ml/lit.
Quinalphos 25 % EC 7.5 ml/10 lt.
4)Aphids
Spray phosalone 35 % EC @ 2.0 ml/lit
Red spider mite, Pinkmite, scarlet mite
Insecticide Dose
Azadirachtin 5% Neem extract concentrate 5.0 ml/10 lit
Azadirachtin 1.0% EC (neem based) 2.0 ml/lit
Dicofol 18.5 % SC 2.0 ml/lit
Fenazaquin 10 % EC 1.6 ml/lit
Fenpyroximate 5 % EC 1.2 ml/lit
Hexythiazox 5.45% EC 1.2 ml/lit.
Phosalone 35 % EC 1.0 ml/lit.
Propargite 57 % EC 2.0 ml/lit.
Spiromesifen 22.9 % SC 1.0 ml/lit.
5)Tea mosquito bug
Monitoring the incidence of tea mosquito bugs at regular intervals.
Removal of alternate hosts like neem, cashew, guava in the surroundings
Spray any one of the following:
o Imidacloprid (0.6 ml/l)
o Thiamethoxam (0.6 g /l)
1)Blister blight
Spray hexaconazole @ 200 ml + copper oxychloride @ 210 g/ha at 5 days interval or copper oxychloride @ 210 g + propiconazole @ 200 ml/ha at 10 days interval.
CIB recommendation
Spray carbendazim 12% + mancozeb 63% WP @ 1.25 to1.5 kg/ha
The yield of green leaves is 10 t/ha.
Growing Districts Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Dindigul, Theni, Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli districts
Major markets in Tamil Nadu Coimbatore, Nilgiris
Grade specification Size of the tea leaves : Whole, large tea – Higher grading
Method of production : CTC process (Crush, Tear and Curl) and Orthodox