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.
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
Hardening of 4 – 6 months old young cuttings should be done by removing shade
gradually in stages over a period of 4 – 6 weeks starting from a few hours exposure to sun every day initially and extending the time of exposure gradually.
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.
May – June or September – October.
Sleeves should be opened lengthwise without injuring the roots and planted in the pit and the soil is gently pressed.
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.
Control perennial grasses (Forbicot weeds) by spraying Glyphosate 1.75 lit +
Kaoline 2 lit + 2 kg of wetting agent in 450 lit of water followed by Gramoxone 500 ml in 200 lit of water to control dicot weeds.
Centering
Tipping
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.
Annual lopping
Cutting the erect type branches on the laterals in shade trees before monsoon season.
Pest Management-
1)Scales
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