According to the Rizhao City Meteorological Bureau's cold snap blue warning notice, affected by strong cold air, our city is expected to experience a cold snap from December 24th to 26th, with a temperature drop of 8-10°C. The lowest temperatures will occur on the morning of the 26th, with inland areas reaching around -10°C and coastal areas -8°C. On the 24th, daytime and nighttime northerly winds will strengthen to 5-6 on land, with gusts up to 8, gradually weakening on the 25th. Additionally, there will be sleet turning into light snow, with some areas experiencing moderate snow, from the daytime of the 24th through the night. Due to the significant temperature drop and low temperatures accompanied by light to moderate snow, there may be noticeable Frost and snow damage, which could adversely affect tea plants overwintering in our city. To mitigate the impact of extreme weather on tea plants, the City Agricultural Technology Service Center has formulated technical guidance for tea gardens dealing with extreme weather.
I. General Strategy for Winter Protection in Tea Gardens During Extreme Weather
In the event of strong winds, heavy snow, and drastic temperature drops, timely winter protection measures should be taken for tea gardens. These include reinforcing large, medium, and small arch frames; removing snow accumulation on greenhouse films and tea Canopy surfaces; draining meltwater from tea rows; securing various coverings; and implementing appropriate winter protection measures for exposed tea gardens. For collapsed arches, damaged greenhouse films, or dislodged tea canopy and row coverings due to strong winds and heavy snow, personnel should promptly repair the frames, cover them with films, and reapply coverings to the canopies and rows.
Prepare film weights and films before extreme weather
Reinforcement of tea canopy frames, greenhouse films, and snow removal from the surface of the structures
II. Emergency Winter Protection Measures for Currently Exposed Tea Gardens
(a) Protective Measures for Young Tea Gardens
(1) Wintering under Small Arch Covers
Cover single or double rows with high-quality agricultural film, with Bamboo bows spaced about 1 meter apart, ensuring a minimum distance of more than 10 cm between the tea canopy and the film.
(2) Full Soil Mulching for Wintering
Full soil mulching is only suitable for 1-year-old tea gardens with loamy soil. Use semi-dry soil to Mulch the tea seedlings, leaving only 1-2 leaves exposed.
(3) Partial Soil Mulching for Wintering
Partial soil mulching is suitable for 1-year-old clay or sandy tea gardens, as well as 2-year-old tea gardens with wider row spacing. Use semi-dry soil to mulch the tea seedlings to approximately one-third to one-half their height, while also using straw to shield the north side of the rows and covering the rows with 3-5 cm of Rice straw or wet straw.
(b) Protective Measures for Mature Tea Gardens
(1) Wintering with Facilities. For clonal tea gardens, it is recommended to use medium to large arch covers for protection, controlling the temperature and humidity inside the covers and properly ventilating them.
(2) Straw (Film) Laying Between Rows: Before the tea garden freezes, lay straw (film) between the rows. It is best to lay wheat bran or wheat stalks, with a thickness of about 10 cm; laying film is best done with biodegradable non-woven fabric.
(3) Windbreak Construction: Set up windbreaks using crop stalks on the north side of the tea plants. The windbreaks should be about 20 cm higher than the tea canopy, with an inclination of about 60° forward. Materials typically used include rice straw, millet stalks, and corn stalks, or agricultural film (or ground cover film).
(4) Covering the Tea Canopy with Straw (Film): When covering the tea canopy with straw, ensure that about 30% of the leaves on the canopy surface are still exposed to direct sunlight. Materials can include fresh pine branches, rice straw, etc. In anticipation of extreme weather, the canopy can be covered with film (woven bags, shade nets) as a protective measure.
