Crops

On August 14, the first “Cool Summer Retreat” media promotion conference was held on Mount Wugong. At the conference, the list of the first batch of “Climate-Friendly Products” for 2024, certified by the China Meteorological Service Association, was announced. Benefiting from its unique climate, Jingning Huiming Tea was selected as one of the first batch of “Climate-Friendly Products” for 2024. Jingning Huiming Tea Selected as One of the First Batch of “Climate-Friendly Products” for 2024 The “Climate-Friendly Products” certification is a joint effort by the China Meteorological Service Association and professional certification bodies to evaluate the climate quality of agricultural products. This work involves assessing factors such as climate, soil, and water quality in the agricultural environment to confirm the unique qualities of the product. The certification results are announced on the official websites of the State Administration for Market Regulation and the association. After the conference, a reporter from Beijing News Shell Finance conducted an exclusive interview with Yan Yihua, President of the Jingning She Autonomous County Tea Culture Research Association, regarding the process of creating Jingning Huiming Tea as a “Climate-Friendly Product” and future plans. Yan Yihua stated that the unique soil and climate conditions in the mountainous…

To enable tea trees to better withstand low-temperature frost damage in winter, it is essential to strengthen their internal nutrition. With a certain level of resistance, they can adapt better to changes in external temperatures. During the growth and development period of tea trees, focus on enhancing nutrient content and soil fertility, allowing the tea trees to grow stronger and accumulate more nutrients. In autumn and winter, concentrate on applying base fertilizers. The application of base fertilizers should primarily consist of farmyard manure, supplemented with potassium and phosphorus fertilizers, as well as sheep and cow manure. These fertilizers generate some heat, which can increase surface soil temperature. Tea trees have sufficient nutrients during their brief dormancy in winter, enabling them to successfully survive the cold season. Applying excessive nitrogen fertilizer in autumn can stimulate vigorous growth in tea trees, delaying their entry into dormancy. This results in soft and tender branches and leaves that are less resistant to low-temperature frost damage. In winter, mound up the soil around the roots of tea trees to a height of seven to nine centimeters. This improves soil structure, with particularly noticeable effects on plots with shallow soil layers. I. Measures Against Frost Damage…

Tea plants are leaf crops cultivated for the harvest of young leaves and buds. Spring tea is the season with the highest quality and most significant economic benefits in the annual tea production cycle. Currently, it is a critical period for implementing spring farming activities across the province. Promptly addressing spring tea production and implementing relevant tea garden management measures play a vital role in enhancing tea yield and quality, as well as increasing the economic benefits for tea farmers and tea enterprises. I. Early Application of Bud Stimulating Fertilizer The new shoots of tea plants in spring grow vigorously, at a rapid pace, and consume relatively large amounts of nutrients. The root system has strong absorption capabilities, and it is difficult to meet the growth needs solely relying on the base fertilizer applied in the previous autumn, which can result in a "disconnection" of soil nutrients in the tea garden. Studies have shown that applying bud stimulating fertilizers about 25 days before the emergence of tea buds not only helps increase spring tea yields (comparing tea gardens with and without spring fertilization, there is an overall increase of 10%-20% in the annual yield), but also plays a good role…

On August 5th, in the Sanfangping Community of Yuyangguan Town, Hubei Caihua Tea Industry Co., Ltd. distributed 9,600 bags of organic fertilizer, 40,000 yellow sticky boards, and 3,200 bottles of lime-sulfur mixture free of charge to 228 local tea farmers. Previously, technical personnel from the County Tea Development Center provided training for local farmers on practical techniques such as pest control and organic farming to improve their scientific management skills. Caihua Tea Industry, one of the key players in the construction of organic, eco-friendly low-carbon tea and ancient wild tea, plans to promote techniques that reduce chemical inputs and implement green prevention measures against pests and diseases in tea gardens. This will enable the creation of a 3,100-mu (approximately 206 hectares) eco-friendly low-carbon tea base. Additionally, they will develop a demonstration base for the protection of ancient tea trees. According to the 2024 Five Peak Consolidation Plan for Ten Thousand Mu Organic Tea, Ancient Wild Tea Bases, and Eco-Friendly Low-Carbon Tea Bases, this year our county aims to build an additional 10,000 mu (approximately 667 hectares) of eco-friendly low-carbon tea bases and 9,800 mu (approximately 653 hectares) of ancient wild tea bases, building upon the existing ten thousand mu organic…

Weed control is a critical aspect of managing young tea gardens in Guizhou. Techniques such as manual weeding, tillage weeding, and mulching have proven effective, but they require significant labor and material inputs. Manual weeding alone can cost 700 to 800 RMB per mu, increasing the overall management costs of the tea garden. Intercropping soybeans in young tea gardens can effectively suppress weed growth, improve the ecological environment, and enhance soil fertility. Additionally, this practice generates supplementary income of around 1,000 RMB per mu. Soybeans are an important oilseed crop, and China's current production falls short of domestic demand. Intercropping soybeans in young tea gardens aligns with national policies aimed at increasing soybean production capacity and ensuring food security. To leverage the weed control and soil fertility benefits of intercropping soybeans, the Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences Tea Research Institute has developed this plan. Soybean intercropping in tea gardens in Datun Village, Shiqian County General Requirements 1. Adhere to Tea Garden Safety Principles All pesticides and fertilizers used in tea gardens must comply with Guizhou's safety standards. No pesticides or fertilizers prohibited in tea gardens should be applied, even if they are suitable for soybeans. 2. Balance Tea Management and…

Green manure is a clean organic fertilizer free from heavy metals, antibiotics, hormones, and other residues. It is also an effective measure to reduce the application of chemical fertilizers and improve soil fertility. Intercropping winter green manure in tea gardens is an effective way to maintain and improve soil fertility, utilizing garden resources to nourish the garden and trees. This practice can maximize resource utilization, as green manure covering the soil surface reduces soil erosion by rainwater, absorbs and activates soil nutrients, and prevents nutrient loss. Since there is less competition between winter green manure and tea plants, it has good prospects for wider application in tea gardens. Based on years of experimental research, this article introduces suitable varieties of winter green manure for tea gardens and key points in their cultivation techniques. Suitable Varieties of Winter Green Manure for Tea Gardens and Their Characteristics Tea garden soils are typically acidic and rich in aluminum, so the green manure crops grown must be acid and aluminum tolerant. The main criteria for selecting suitable green manure crops are biomass yield and quality, which are important indicators of a variety's stress tolerance and productivity. Nitrogen content is one of the most critical…

Tea plants are perennial evergreen shrubs, and environmental pollutants accumulate in tea gardens and within the plants over time. Due to their large leaf surface area, tea plants have a higher initial deposition of pesticides or adsorb higher concentrations of environmental pollutants under the same dosage and air pollution levels compared to other crops. With multiple harvests per year, the interval between pesticide application and harvest is short, reducing the time for pesticide degradation. After picking, tea leaves are directly processed into dried tea, which is then steeped for consumption, causing any pesticide residues or pollutants to leach into the tea infusion based on their solubility. Therefore, the ecological environment of tea gardens and the quality safety of tea products receive significant attention. I. Development of Pest Management Technologies in China 1. Traditional Control Stage Before the 1940s, tea gardens were scattered and sporadic, with relatively few pest outbreaks. Pest control technologies were also rudimentary. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, although tea production rapidly developed, pest management in tea gardens remained at the stage of agricultural control measures and the use of plant-based pesticides. Although this period was technologically primitive from an ecological perspective, the populations…

Recently, there has been a significant temperature drop in the tea-growing areas north of the Yangtze River, south of the Yangtze River, eastern parts of the southwestern region, and southern China. Some regions have experienced temperature drops exceeding 18°C. The province has seen the most extensive freezing weather since winter began, with minimum temperatures dropping below 0°C in all areas except parts of the Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. Prolonged low temperatures, freezing conditions, and snowfall will cause varying degrees of damage to factories and seedling greenhouses in some tea-growing areas, adversely affecting young tea seedlings and mature tea plants, delaying harvesting times, and reducing tea production. Urgent action is needed to prevent and mitigate the impact of freezing weather. To cope with the cold snap and minimize freeze damage to tea gardens and facilities, based on technical guidance developed by the Department of Crop Management under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, together with the National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center, the Expert Advisory Group on Tea of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the Tea Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and considering the actual situation in Guizhou, the following preventive…

The eighteen villages of Mengku are famous for producing fine tea! How many of these eighteen villages have you heard of? Xiaohusai, one of these villages, is known as a rival to Bingdao. I. Geographical Location of Xiaohusai Xiaohusai is one of the eighteen villages of Mengku, located to the north of Mengku Town. It is 4.00 kilometers away from Gongnong Village Committee and 18.00 kilometers from Mengku Town. It is affiliated with Gongnong Village Committee, Mengku Town, Shuangjiang County, Lahu, Va, Blang, and Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Lincang City, Yunnan Province, China. The altitude is 1,800.00 meters, with an average annual temperature of 20.00°C and annual rainfall of 1,750.00 millimeters, making it suitable for growing tea and walnuts, among other crops. II. Growing Environment of Xiaohusai Pu'er Tea Xiaohusai is well-known in Shuangjiang, Lincang, because not only is it home to the largest ancient tea garden in Mengku, but it also has the most preserved ancient tea gardens in Shuangjiang, which are in excellent condition. The preservation of a significant portion of Xiaohusai's ancient tea gardens is largely due to its remote location. The Gongan River and Chashan River flow down from Mount Bangma, separating the three villages of Xiaohusai.…

Distribution of the Mengsong Tea Region Yunnan is a wondrous and beautiful place known and prospering due to tea. Pu'er tea can be considered one of Yunnan's most distinctive calling cards. Within these tea-producing regions, each famous mountain and village has its own unique ancient tree teas, each with a distinct flavor, truly embodying the saying that every mountain has its own taste and every village its own fragrance. Let’s take a look at the quality characteristics of the four tea regions in Mengsong Town, Menghai County. #01 Naka Ancient Tree Tea "Naka" means "a place with tea," also written as Naka, Lakar, or Nakar. The Naka Village Group belongs to Manlu Village in Mengsong Town, Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, and is located in a mountainous area. It is situated in the northwest of Mengsong Town, 6 kilometers from the Manlu Village Committee, and 30 kilometers from the Mengsong Town government. The elevation of Naka Village is 1,660 meters, with an average annual temperature of 16°C and an annual rainfall of 1,900 millimeters. Forest coverage reaches 85%, making it suitable for planting crops like tea. Naka ancient tea is one of Yunnan’s famous teas. Naka bamboo tube tea was renowned…

Recently, strong convective weather has been frequent in Guangxi, and excessive rainfall can easily cause waterlogging in tea gardens, leading to wet damage to tea plants. Tea plants are crops that prefer moisture but fear flooding. In tea gardens with poor drainage or high groundwater levels, tea plants often grow poorly in large areas and have low yields. After wet damage, even repeated renovation of the tree canopy and increased fertilization levels cannot change the low-yielding appearance of the tea garden, and the plants may even gradually die. 01 Symptoms of Wet Damage The main symptoms of wet damage to tea plants include fewer branches, sparse buds and leaves, slow growth or cessation of growth, grayish-white twigs, yellowing leaves, stunted and diseased trees, gradual death, extremely low tea yield, fewer absorbing roots, limited lateral root extension, shallow root layers, some lateral roots growing horizontally or upward instead of downward. In severe cases, the outer skin of the conducting roots turns black, is less smooth, and develops many small, tumor-like protrusions. When wet damage occurs, the fine roots at greater depths are affected first. Soon after, the shallower fine roots also begin to suffer. The surface of the thick roots appears…

Green Pest Management Techniques for Tea Trees Main Targets of Control ↑ Tea Blight Disease → Tea Looper Pests: Tea Green Leafhopper, Tea Looper, Tea Caterpillar, Tea Black Worm Moth, Black Scale Psyllid, Tea Red Mite. Diseases: Tea Blight Disease, Tea Anthracnose. Key Control Measures Agricultural Control 1. Timely Harvesting. Harvest young buds and leaves according to the requirements of tea production to reduce the population of pests like the tea green leafhopper, mites, and some bud diseases residing on the canopy surface of the tea tree. 2. Pruning as Needed. Prune tea trees after the spring harvest and in late autumn according to the requirements of tea garden management, reducing pest populations and creating conditions unfavorable for pests. Generally, deep pruning or heavy pruning is done after the spring harvest, and light pruning is performed in late autumn. 3. Garden Tilling. In late autumn, till the tea garden combined with the application of base fertilizer, which is detrimental to the survival of scale insects and weevils overwintering in the soil, thus reducing their occurrence in the following year. 4. Timely Garden Cleanup. Clear and bury leaves and topsoil near the roots of tea plants in late autumn, which can…

Zhangjia Third Team is affiliated with Zhangjia Village Committee in Bulang Mountain Township and is located in a mountainous area. It is situated to the south of Bulang Mountain Township at an altitude of 1,100 meters, characterized by a subtropical monsoon climate. The average annual temperature ranges from 18-21°C, with an annual precipitation of 1,374 millimeters, making it suitable for growing crops such as rice and tea. In the bustling market for ancient tree Pu'er tea, ecological tea gardens are often labeled as "inferior tea." However, thanks to its superior geographical environment and ancient tea-making techniques, Zhangjia Third Team's high-mountain ecological tea garden model stands out as an exception. The tea trees in Zhangjia Third Team grow on mountains without any barriers or obstructions, enjoying long hours of sunlight and ample cloud mist nourishment. The soil is rich and fertile. Due to the excellent environment, the local residents do not excessively prune the tea leaves but allow them to grow naturally, resulting in a tea quality that can compete with ancient tree teas. As a result, the tea garden has earned the reputation as the "King of Ecological Teas." "Little Lao Banzhang" in Bulang Mountain Zhangjia Third Team is only…

Great tea is grown, but it is also well-managed. As the saying goes: "One-third planting, two-thirds management." After three seasons of growth and harvesting in spring, summer, and autumn, the tea plant has expended a great deal of nutrients, and the soil between rows becomes compacted. As winter approaches, proper garden management becomes particularly important for the quality and yield of next year's tea leaves. For this reason, the Tea Industry Development Working Group, in collaboration with Guizhou Broadcasting Station's Ecology & Rural Channel, has produced a teaching video on tea garden management during autumn and winter for reference and learning by tea companies and farmers. The video received strong support from the Guizhou Tea Research Institute and covers four parts: fertilization principles and recommendations, pruning techniques for tea plants, pest and disease control, and cold prevention measures. 1 Winter Fertilization According to the growth and development patterns of tea plants, as they enter autumn and winter, the above-ground parts will gradually stop growing and enter dormancy. However, the underground parts become increasingly active and enter the peak period of root activity throughout the year. At this time, the plant's root system significantly strengthens its absorption capacity and has a…

With Hangzhou experiencing continuous hot and sunny weather, many citizens are concerned about how the West Lake Longjing tea is faring.Today, reporters learned from the West Lake Scenic Area that overall, the tea villages and tea fields are holding up well. Although temperatures are high, yesterday’s thunderstorm helped alleviate some of the drought conditions in the tea fields. Currently, various tea villages have started implementing measures to protect their tea trees from the sun and provide them with sufficient water. Through a range of actions, they aim to ensure the tea trees can survive the summer safely. "During this period of continuous high temperatures and drought, tea farmers are taking great care in nurturing their tea trees. Starting from July, flat tea fields without shade, such as parts of Shuangfeng Village, began laying down agricultural sunshades. Tea fields with irrigation facilities are being watered by farmers every morning and evening to ensure the tea trees receive adequate moisture," explained Lu Yiqing, a staff member of the Agricultural Technology Service Station of the West Lake Subdistrict. "Laying down sunshades requires attention to detail; they should not be placed directly on top of the tea trees but should leave enough space to…

"White Peony tea," a precious variety, is produced in Zhenghe, known as the "Hometown of Chinese White Tea." White Peony tea is picked at the stage of one bud and two leaves, requiring that the buds and leaves are covered with white down, referred to as "three whites." The shape of the tea is two leaves embracing a bud, with a natural leaf posture and white down covering the back of the leaves. After brewing, the liquor turns apricot yellow or orange-yellow, clear and bright, with a fresh and lasting downy fragrance. The veins are slightly red, scattered among the green leaves, earning it the praise of "red dress on a white body." The preparation method for drinking White Peony tea is similar to that of green tea but, due to the lack of kneading, the tea juice does not easily seep out, so the brewing time is slightly longer than for green tea. "White like clouds, green like dreams, clean like snow, fragrant like orchids," this tea, which is cold and cool in nature, has the effects of heat-clearing and summer-heat dispelling, making it an excellent drink for refreshing the heart and purifying the spirit in summer. It is…

Xigui natural village is affiliated with Bangdong Village, Bangdong Township, Lincang District, Lincang City, Yunnan Province, China, and is located in a mountainous area. It is 12 kilometers away from the Bangdong Village Committee and 16 kilometers away from the Bangdong Township government. The territory covers an area of 3.82 square kilometers, with an altitude of 750 meters, an average annual temperature of 22°C, and annual precipitation of 1,100 millimeters. The total arable land area of the entire village is 295 mu, with 1.24 mu per capita, mainly planting crops such as rice and corn; it has 4,855 mu of forest land, including 945 mu of economic fruit tree land, which amounts to 3.98 mu of economic fruit trees per capita. The main economic fruit trees planted are rubber, among others. There is 80 mu of water surface area, of which 1 mu is used for aquaculture; there are 385 mu of barren mountains and wastelands, and other areas cover 345 mu. 01 Manglu Mountain Xigui tea is produced in Xigui Village on Manglu Mountain within Bangdong Township, Lincang District, Lincang City, Yunnan Province. "Xigui" means "the village good at making ropes" in Dai language. Manglu Mountain is part of…

Basic Introduction to Jingbian Buckwheat TeaBuckwheat tea is a beverage made by screening and roasting buckwheat seeds. The naturally grown "Yuzhao-4" and "Bitter Buckwheat" in the Baiyu Mountain area are well-known green foods, and Jingbian buckwheat has won many awards as an excellent minor grain variety. Nutritional ValueIn addition to rich protein, chlorophyll, fat, carbohydrates, crude fiber, minerals, and trace elements, buckwheat tea also contains 18 natural amino acids, with a total content of 11.82%, and nine fatty acids, which promote growth and development in children and can prevent coronary heart disease in adults. History and FolkloreLong ago, there was a great drought; for several months, not a drop of rain fell. Crops failed, and the people suffered greatly. As the harvest season approached and the people continued to pray for rain, the Dragon King could no longer bear to watch and went to speak to Jade Emperor on their behalf. Hearing of the plight of humanity, Jade Emperor felt he had neglected his duties and promptly arranged for a thorough rain. The Dragon King reported back that it would be too late, as the weather was cooling and there was nothing left to flower and produce seeds. Jade Emperor,…