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 dead branches and leaves while preserving the picking surface. For severe frost damage, deep pruning, heavy pruning, or stump Cutting should be performed to remove dead branches.
2. Drought Prevention in Spring: For tea gardens with irrigation facilities, promptly repair and maintain irrigation equipment and clear water storage pools to actively reserve water. Cover the soil between rows, especially in young tea gardens, with crop stalks to retain moisture. After rainfall, perform shallow tillage to loosen the soil and help retain water and moisture.
II. Nutritional Management
1. Apply Organic Fertilizer: Applying organic fertilizer in winter helps promote the growth of tea plants and improve the quality of fresh leaves. Based on soil fertility and the nutrient content of organic fertilizers, regions that have the conditions can apply organic fertilizers via trench application along the drip line of tea plants from December to January, at approximately 200 kg per mu (about 0.067 hectares).
2. Foliar Application of Fertilizer: To enhance the nutrient reserves of tea plants and improve the yield and quality of spring tea, amino acid foliar fertilizers or other nutritional foliar fertilizers can be applied once in December, followed by another one to two applications in January and February. The intervals between applications should be two weeks, and drones can be used for spraying.
3. Top-Dressing with Nitrogen Fertilizer: In high-quality tea production areas, fast-acting nitrogen fertilizers can be applied 40-50 days before the start of spring tea harvesting, at a rate of 5-8 kg of pure nitrogen per mu. In Oolong tea and bulk Green Tea production areas, fast-acting nitrogen fertilizers can be applied 20-30 days before the start of spring tea harvesting, also at a rate of 5-8 kg of pure nitrogen per mu.
III. Preparation for Spring Tea Production
1. Maintenance of Production Equipment: Repair and maintain tea picking, processing, and field operation equipment to ensure they are in good working condition. Check for shortages and timely purchase and install any missing equipment.
2. Procurement of Production Materials: Purchase production materials in advance, including fertilizers, fuel, pest control products, and pandemic protection gear needed for spring tea production.
3. Cleaning of Production Sites: Clear drainage ditches and irrigation channels in tea gardens, repair garden roads, and clean up the processing plant and its surroundings.
4. Training for Production: Organize training sessions for tea pickers and processors during the winter off-season to improve their skills in picking and processing and raise awareness of safety in production.
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