Pest

In order to enhance the management level of tea garden production, ensuring stable and high yields as well as improved quality and efficiency, on August 7th, the Jiangmen Agricultural Technology Extension Service Platform, in conjunction with the Kaiping Agricultural Technology Extension Service Station, invited Senior Agronomist Huang Hualin to conduct a live training session on the theme of “Tea Garden Planning and Planting Management” at Dahasha Valley in Dasha Town, Kaiping City. At the event, Expert Huang Hualin combined theory with practice to provide an accessible explanation of tea garden management and production processing techniques. He emphasized and guided the intercropping model of tea and beans, aiming to improve the nutrient utilization efficiency of tea plants and achieve the goal of reducing fertilizer use while increasing efficiency. Subsequently, Expert Huang Hualin discussed aspects of planting management such as sowing techniques, weeding and fertilization, pruning, and pest control. He also reminded farmers that after the growth and harvesting periods of spring and summer, tea plants lose their stored nutrients and soil nutrients, necessitating strengthened management of tea gardens in autumn and winter to ensure the healthy growth of tea plants and improve the quality and yield of tea leaves. Finally, Expert…

Nursery management significantly influences the survival and transplanting rates of tea seedlings. Different ecological and physiological factors at various stages of development require distinct management approaches, depending on when the cuttings were taken. I. Development Cycle of Tea Seedlings When using short-shoot cuttings, the process from planting to developing a standard-compliant tea seedling can be divided into two phases: the pre-plant stage where the cutting is establishing itself, and the phase where a complete plant develops into a viable seedling. The survival rate during the first phase is critical in propagation techniques. Summer and early autumn cuttings have longer growth cycles and larger growth volumes, which often result in a significant number of weaker plants due to competition for nutrients and space, particularly in the second year of growth. To improve transplanting rates and seedling quality, the second phase is typically managed in two different periods: one when the seedling is less than 20 cm tall, focusing on promoting vigorous growth, and another once it surpasses 20 cm, implementing measures to control stronger plants while stimulating weaker ones. II. Element Management Nursery element management encompasses water, light, temperature, fertilization, pest and weed control, and plant regulation. Each of these elements…

Impacted by a moderate-strength El Niño event, and superimposed on the backdrop of global warming, the global average temperature in 2023 may break the record for the warmest year set in 2016. It is expected that temperatures in most regions of China will be close to or higher than the long-term average this winter through to next spring, but with active cold air phases. Precipitation in southern regions is expected to be above normal, increasing the risk of compound meteorological disasters. Given these complex climate changes, timely management of tea gardens during winter can help them safely overwinter and lay a foundation for high-quality tea production and increased income for tea farmers in the coming year. So how should we manage tea gardens in winter? Follow along as we look at the winter and spring tea garden management technical guidelines developed jointly by the Department of Plant Industry Management of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center, and the Expert Advisory Group for Tea of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. 1. Disaster Prevention 1.1 Preventing Frost Damage Monitor weather forecasts closely. Before a cold wave, implement frost protection measures such as…

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…

Summer and autumn are critical periods for tea garden management. Strengthening summer and autumn tea garden production management is the foundation for ensuring high-quality and high-yield summer and autumn tea and the following spring tea. The Planting Industry Management Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, together with the National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center, the Expert Advisory Group for Tea of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the National Tea Industry Technology System, have developed the following technical guidance on summer and autumn tea garden production management and disaster prevention and mitigation. Strengthening Tea Garden Production Management (1) Tea Plant Pruning - For year-round harvesting tea gardens, promptly perform the initial light pruning after spring tea harvesting, cutting off the top 5-10 cm of shoots from the canopy. During summer tea harvesting, it is advisable to allow some growth retention and use the leaf-retention method or tip-picking method to maintain an appropriate leaf layer thickness. Harvesting should be appropriately stopped earlier in autumn to avoid affecting the yield and quality of the following year's spring tea. To cultivate a good picking surface, the second light pruning should be completed before mid-July, with the pruning height…

Recently, in response to the persistent high temperatures and drought conditions across multiple regions of the province, the Provincial Tea Industry Technology System and the Science and Technology Service Team for the "515" Action Plan in the tea industry have been working under high temperatures and visiting grassroots levels to conduct research and guidance. Considering the actual situation of tea production in our province, the following technical measures are proposed to cope with extreme high-temperature weather, for reference by tea-producing areas. I. Emergency Technical Measures for Tea Garden Management 1. Timely and Reasonable Irrigation For tea gardens with irrigation facilities, various methods such as spray irrigation, drip irrigation, and surface irrigation can be employed to water the plants, preferably during the morning or evening. Spray irrigation is particularly effective, as it not only alleviates water shortages caused by drought but also reduces near-surface temperatures in the garden, mitigating the impact of high temperatures. When using surface irrigation, care should be taken to avoid excessive water flow that could result in surface runoff, wasting water resources and causing soil compaction in the tea garden. 2. Scientific and Effective Shading Using shade nets to provide shading for tea gardens can immediately and…

This year, due to widespread cold snaps and wintry weather, some tea gardens in the Huangshan District experienced low-temperature frost damage. To ensure that spring tea production is not affected, recently, Professor Li Yecloud of Tea Science from Anhui Agricultural University and experts from the South Anhui Comprehensive Experimental Station visited tea gardens in the Huangshan District to provide on-site guidance for spring tea production. With less than a month until the start of spring tea harvesting, it's a critical period for spring tea management. In the high mountain tea garden in Longyuan Village, Longmen Township, Huangshan District, Professor Li Yecloud of Tea Science from Anhui Agricultural University and his team are discussing the situation of spring tea production with local tea farmers and offering targeted advice. "The pruning was too severe; generally, we suggest leaving a base." After on-site observation, Professor Li found that some tea plants had been over-pruned, and some leaves were showing red-yellow discoloration. Professor Li Yecloud, School of Tea and Food Science & Technology, Anhui Agricultural University: After checking along the way, I feel that the tea gardens in the Huangshan District, due to relatively high management standards earlier, suffered only minor frost damage. Only…

Tea tree cuttings are the primary means of propagating clonal tea seedlings. First, select a good mother garden of tea tree cultivars. During spring planting (February to March) or autumn planting (September to October), prune red-brown, semi-lignified, healthy, pest and disease-free branches with full axillary buds from the mother garden. Cut the branches into short cuttings 3 to 4 centimeters long, each with one leaf and a full axillary bud. Ensure that the cut is smooth and diagonal. (1) Method for Cutting Insertion Thoroughly moisten the seedbed before cutting insertion. Once the surface soil is no longer sticky, draw lines according to the length of the tea leaves. Generally, the row spacing for the cuttings should be 7 to 8 centimeters, and the plant spacing should be 2 to 3 centimeters, ensuring that the leaves do not overlap. Hold the lower part of the leaf of the cutting with your thumb, index, and middle fingers, then insert the cutting straight or slightly diagonally into the soil. The depth should be such that only the petiole is exposed. While inserting, lightly press the soil around the cutting to ensure it is firmly in contact with the soil, which aids root development.…

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…

On July 1, our city experienced heavy rainfall, with 24-hour accumulated precipitation exceeding 100 millimeters at 23 monitoring stations, the highest being 172.9 millimeters at Changling station. The intense short-term rainfall led to landslides, collapsed embankments, mud accumulation, and waterlogging in some tea gardens, causing varying degrees of flood damage and related secondary disasters. To minimize losses from tea production due to disasters, Tongcheng Kangzhiyuan Family Farm promptly launched science popularization activities for disaster mitigation in tea gardens. Tea farmers can take the following remedial measures: 1. Drainage and Clearing of Silt and Waterlogging For tea gardens with standing water, drainage ditches should be promptly cleared and dredged, and deep trenches opened to drain the water as soon as possible, avoiding waterlogging that could harm the tea trees due to prolonged water accumulation. At the same time, mud, sand, stones, and other debris that have washed into the tea garden, as well as mud on the branches and leaves of tea plants, should be cleared away promptly. Efforts should be made to reduce soil moisture and environmental humidity as soon as possible to prevent root rot or decay caused by prolonged soaking of tea trees. 2. Restoration of Tea Gardens…

The tea regions of Guiyang City have been frequently impacted by extreme spring weather in recent years. According to meteorological forecasts, the city is expected to experience another cold wave soon. To cope with the upcoming temperature drops, thunderstorms, and late spring cold snaps, this document, "Preventive and Remedial Measures for Low-Temperature Freeze Damage (Late Spring Cold Snap) in Guiyang and Guian Tea Gardens," has been specially formulated for your reference. I. Preventive Measures (1) Pay Attention to Cold Wave Forecasts Strengthen forecasting and early warning systems for disastrous weather conditions, promptly issue cold wave information, and prepare in advance. After a cold wave forecast is released, tea gardens that are already open should mobilize manpower to harvest as much as possible to minimize losses from frost damage. (2) Cover Tea Gardens for Frost Protection Straw, bamboo leaves, and rice husks can be spread between rows of tea plants to keep them warm, ideally at a thickness of about 10 centimeters, which can generally increase temperatures by 1-2°C. In tea gardens on windward slopes prone to frost damage, cover the canopy with straw, weeds, or shade nets, not too tightly so that the tea plants are still visible. This will…

According to forecasts from our city's meteorological station, from 14:00 on July 10 to 08:00 on July 11, the average precipitation in our city was 52.6 millimeters, with a maximum of 179.2 millimeters. Four towns and streets experienced heavy rainstorms (100–250 millimeters), 24 towns and streets experienced storms (50–100 millimeters), and 13 towns and streets experienced heavy rain (25–50 millimeters). Other towns and streets experienced moderate rain (10–25 millimeters). To effectively mitigate the impact of disastrous weather on tea gardens and tea production and stabilize summer and autumn tea production, the following technical guidance is proposed. I. Strengthen Patrols and Preventive Measures in Tea Gardens The flood season has arrived, and strong winds and heavy rains may occur at any time. We should closely monitor weather forecasts. Before heavy rains, strengthen patrols of tea gardens and reinforce greenhouses and other production facilities. Check and dredge drainage ditches in advance; dig drainage trenches where necessary, especially in low-lying or high groundwater areas, where trenches should be at least one meter deep. Move tea, production materials, and equipment from low-lying areas as a precaution against heavy rains. II. Promptly Drain Flooded Tea Gardens After heavy rains, organize labor to drain water from…

Affecting a moderate-strength El Niño event and superimposed on the backdrop of global warming, the average global temperature in 2023 may break the record for the warmest year set in 2016. It is expected that most regions in China will have temperatures similar to or higher than the long-term average this winter through next spring, but with active cold air phases. Precipitation in southern regions will be above normal, increasing the risk of compound meteorological disasters. In response to complex climate changes, timely management of tea gardens during winter can help ensure their safe overwintering and lay the groundwork for high-quality and high-yield tea production and increased income for tea farmers in the coming year. So how can we properly manage tea gardens in winter? Follow along as we explore the winter-spring tea garden management guidelines developed by the Department of Plant Industry Management of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, in collaboration with the National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center and the Expert Advisory Group on Tea of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. 1. Disaster Prevention 1.1 Freeze Prevention Closely monitor weather forecasts and implement protective measures such as mulching between rows and covering the canopy…

Technical Guidance on Winter and Spring Tea Garden Management National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center, Expert Advisory Group of Tea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs The spring tea is the most crucial part of the annual tea production. The winter and spring seasons are critical for enhancing tea garden management and improving the quality and efficiency of spring tea. To strengthen the management of tea gardens in winter and spring, the Planting Industry Management Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has collaborated with the National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center and the Expert Advisory Group of Tea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to develop the following technical guidance for winter and spring tea garden production management. I. Disaster Prevention 1. Freeze Prevention: Closely monitor weather forecasts. Before cold waves, apply straw mulch between rows and cover the tea canopy with straw mats, plastic films, or shade nets to prevent freezing. After the cold wave, remove the canopy coverings promptly. During a cold wave, irrigation or spray irrigation can be used to mitigate cold and freeze damage. After temperatures return to normal, prune the frost-damaged tea garden. For mild frost damage, perform light pruning to remove…

(1) Choose the Appropriate Season In general, planting should coincide with the rainy season in the region, making it easier to succeed if planted just before or at the start of the rainy season. In most cases, when the weather is not dry in mid-to-late November to December in the south, the soil is moist and tea seedlings are in their dormant period. Autumn planting is conducive to root development and has a higher survival rate than spring planting. (2) Determine the Suitable Planting Pattern When planting, consider the adaptability for future mechanized management of the tea garden, such as the passage of machinery between rows and the placement of turning areas for machines. There are primarily two methods: single-row planting and double-row planting. ① Single-Row Planting. The row spacing is 1.3 to 1.5 meters, with a distance of 25 to 33 centimeters between clumps, and each clump contains 2 to 3 plants, using 2,500 to 4,000 seedlings per mu (about 0.067 hectares). In regions with lower temperatures or higher altitudes, the row spacing can be reduced to 1.2 to 1.3 meters, and the distance between clumps can be reduced to around 20 centimeters. ② Double-Row Planting. Two rows are…

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…

The plum rain is a concentrated period of rainfall that occurs annually from June to July in the mid-lower reaches of the Yangtze River, including tea areas in southern China, as well as subsequent mountain floods often accompanied by typhoons in August and September. Experience has shown that improper disaster prevention or neglect during the plum rain and mountain flood season can pose significant threats and losses to tea production, particularly in mountainous tea areas in southern China. To minimize the adverse effects of plum rain and subsequent mountain floods on tea production, especially in southern China, we have compiled measures for disaster prevention and mitigation in tea production for your reference. 1. Pay Attention to Plum Rain and Mountain Flood Forecast and Warning Information After June each year, tea areas, particularly those in mountainous regions of southern China, should promptly monitor the latest weather forecasts and mountain flood warnings. Be vigilant against the risk of mountain floods due to continuous rainfall or short-term heavy downpours and strong convection weather. Closely watch changes in weather conditions and rainfall levels. Once there is a forecast or warning of significant rainfall, it's better to be overly cautious and enter a state of…

Severe Infestation of Tea Looper How to Cope, Find Out Here It is currently late summer and early autumn, with cool weather in the morning and evening. This year has seen more rain than usual, resulting in vigorous growth of tea plants with lush green leaves, providing rich food for tea plant pests. According to investigations into the infestation of tea loopers in Longwu tea gardens, various age groups of larvae coexist, with severe overlapping generations. In some severely affected areas of tea gardens, the older leaves have been completely consumed, affecting the growth of tea plants, which requires close attention from tea garden managers. Due to differences in cultivation and management practices among individual households, the timing of infestations and the degree of damage vary across different tea gardens, making pest control challenging. It is essential to strengthen pest monitoring through field observations and the use of trapping devices, promptly understanding the dynamics of pest outbreaks and implementing appropriate measures: 1. Turn on insect-killing lamps, taking advantage of the fact that adult tea loopers are most active between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM. Set the operating times of the lamps accordingly, ideally using a light-controlled mode where they automatically…

The integrated approach to green precision prevention and control of major tea pests involves using core technologies such as narrow-band LED insect traps, yellow-red dual-color insect-attracting boards, and efficient sex pheromone lures to maintain target pest populations at a low level through long-term and efficient trapping. This is complemented by biological preventive measures, such as spraying inchworm virus preparations and releasing predatory mites, along with good agricultural practices to control pest populations. Finally, highly efficient, low water-soluble chemical pesticides are used as emergency measures in the event of large-scale pest outbreaks. In recent years, tea plant protection scientists have conducted extensive research on pest control techniques, developing effective green precision prevention and control technologies for tea pests. Below, we will use three of the most important pests in Chinese tea gardens—the gray inchworm, the tea inchworm, and the tea tiny green leafhopper—as examples. Integrated Approach to Green Precision Prevention and Control of Major Tea Pests I. Green Precision Prevention and Control Technology Model for Gray Inchworm and Tea Inchworm Note: “√” indicates the selected control technique at the corresponding time. The same applies below. 1. Core Key Technologies (1) Sex Pheromone Lures. Based on the severity of the previous year,…

How long can Xiaoyinggan be stored? How should it be stored? Xiaoyinggan does have an expiration date, which is generally three years. However, if stored correctly, Xiaoyinggan can be kept for a long time. This is because the Xiaoyinggan undergoes a drying process to facilitate long-term storage. There are two methods of drying: natural sun-drying and direct heating. Sun-dried fruits have a richer aroma and better taste, but due to the rainy season in Xinhui from July to September, full natural sun-drying cannot meet the requirements of large-scale production and is difficult to manage due to unpredictable weather. Most producers adopt a semi-natural sun-drying technique. Taking Shitianyi Guozhenxiang Xinhui Xiaoyinggan as an example, they pick Xinhui Tianma oranges, fill them with Yunnan Imperial Pu'er tea after screening and cleaning, and then moderately supplement natural sunlight drying for more than five days. This method preserves the original flavor and nutritional components of the orange peel to the greatest extent. Under such conditions, the Xiaoyinggan we see on the market can indeed be stored for a long time. Moreover, the semi-sun-dried Xiaoyinggan becomes even more flavorful and fragrant over time. In terms of Xiaoyinggan, because it carries the common advantages of aged…

Main pests in autumn tea gardens and their control measures. The weather gradually cools down in September, with vigorous growth of tea plants and abundant food for pests, which is very conducive to the occurrence of pests such as mites and tea green leafhoppers. If not controlled in time, they can easily cause outbreaks that severely impact the yield and quality of next year's spring tea. The main pests occurring currently and their control measures are as follows: I. Tea Orange Spider Mite This pest is small in size, with adult and juvenile mites piercing and sucking tea plant sap. When mite numbers are low, the damage is not obvious and hard to detect. However, when mite numbers increase, the veins of affected leaves turn red, the leaves lose their green color and luster. Severe infestations result in a brown rust appearance on the underside of the leaves, withered and dried shoots and leaves, and a scorched appearance, and may even cause defoliation. Some tea gardens have experienced heavy infestations recently. Without effective control measures, mite populations will continue to rise. The following measures are recommended for control: 1. Strengthen garden management by removing weeds and fallen leaves. Timely picking…

Tea gardens are characterized by a diverse range of weeds, complex weed communities, and strong stability. According to incomplete surveys and statistics, there are as many as 202 common weed species found in domestic tea gardens, belonging to 49 families and 163 genera. Weeds can impact the growth of tea plants, causing symptoms such as stunted growth, yellowing leaves, leaf drop, and delayed development. They may also carry diseases or pests that affect tea plants directly or act as intermediate hosts, indirectly impacting the growth and development of tea plants. "Grass to suppress grass" is an integral part of the green and efficient prevention and control technology system for Guizhou tea gardens, embodying the concept of "ecology at its root, agriculture at its core, and biological control first." Planting white clover in tea gardens can effectively suppress weeds and resist tea plant diseases and pests. Below are key technical points for reference. White clover in tea gardens and pollinating insects - bees Intercropping white clover in tea gardens Effective "grass to suppress grass" In recent years, research teams from Guizhou University, the Provincial Plant Protection and Inspection Station, the Provincial Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the Provincial Soil and Fertilizer…

To strengthen the management of tea gardens during summer and autumn and ensure production of teas during these seasons as well as the following spring, the Department of Plant Industry Management of 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 National Tea Industry Technology System, have proposed technical guidelines for tea production in summer and autumn 2024. Strengthen Fertilization Management of Tea Gardens 1. Top-Dressing Fertilization in Tea Gardens (a) Root Fertilization: Top-dressing fertilization for summer tea should be carried out after the spring tea harvest, and for autumn tea after the summer tea harvest. For tea gardens in production, about 15-20 kg of urea or 20-30 kg of specialized compound fertilizer for tea (with a formula of 18:8:12 N:P2O5:K2O) is generally applied per mu, with higher-yielding gardens receiving slightly more. Image Source: Anji White Tea Website Fertilizer should be applied in trenches dug vertically below the edge of the tree canopy, with a depth of about 10-15 cm. Broadcasting of fertilizer is prohibited. In young tea gardens (1-2 years old), fertilizer should be applied 5-10…

On February 7th, tea experts from Guocha Institute specializing in breeding, processing, cultivation, and plant protection jointly provided technical guidance on the renovation and improvement of low-yielding and inefficient tea gardens in Hong'an. At the Hubei Yude Tea Co., Ltd. base in Dabie Mountain area, the experts addressed a series of issues including tea tree aging, lax management of tea gardens, and poor adaptability of varieties. They proposed new standardized techniques for establishing tea gardens quickly using new tea tree varieties, providing on-site guidance in the tea gardens that are about to be renovated. The aim is to increase tea seedling survival rates and shorten the period it takes for the gardens to become productive. Additionally, considering the overwintering conditions of major pests and diseases in old tea gardens, they suggested measures to prevent major pest and disease outbreaks and provided guidance on integrated pest management. Text and Images: Tan Rongrong