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Severe Infestation of Tea Looper: How to Cope, Find Out Here
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… -
Naxian Village, New Comfort Town: United Development for a Thriving Tea Industry
In the pleasant April weather, with a gentle breeze blowing. In the tea garden of the Pomegranate Seed Group in Naxian Village, New Comfort Town, Mengjiang County, old tea trees taller than a person are sprouting new green leaves. Tea farmers are seen climbing wooden scaffolds or pulling on tree branches to pick the fresh buds. Stepping into the home of Li Kang, a tea farmer in the Pomegranate Seed Group of Naxian Village, New Comfort Town, one is greeted by the aroma of tea. He is diligently inspecting every step of the tea processing and production. Before long, freshly stir-fried spring tea is ready. According to Li Kang, Naxian Village has tea trees over a hundred years old. However, due to a lack of business management concepts, the villagers operated independently without forming a united front, which prevented them from capitalizing on their valuable resource. In 2022, Li Kang registered Mengjiang New Comfort Youzhi Tea Processing Factory, leasing more than 50 mu (approx. 33,333 square meters) of land with over 1,600 tea trees aged 80 years or older across two groups, Baiye Village and Pomegranate Seed Group. He invited experts with over 30 years of experience in producing Pu'er… -
Puer: Jingmai Mountain Has Not Only Ancient Tea Trees but Also Winter Cherry Blossoms over Thousands of Mu
In the midst of winter, the winter cherry blossoms covering thousands of mu sway in the wind at the peak of the tea mountain.Jingmai Mountain is located within Lanchang County, a region inhabited by the Lahu and other ethnic groups in Puer City. To its east lies Menghai County in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, and to its west is Myanmar. It is one of the famous six major Puer tea mountains and is home to ancient tea forests that have been cultivated for thousands of years, which are among the most intact in the world. Cherry blossoms in full bloom on Jingmai Mountain The area boasts vast seas of clouds, rolling mountains, lush ancient trees, and clusters of traditional villages. In addition to these, this place, listed by UNESCO on the World Heritage List, also has a breathtaking pink spectacle that captures the heart at first sight. Cherry blossoms in full bloom on Jingmai Mountain Cherry blossoms in full bloom on Jingmai Mountain The ancient tea mountain consists of nine traditional villages inhabited by the Bulang, Dai, Hani, and other ethnic groups, including Jingmai, Mangjing, and Manghong. Here, the people are simple and respectful of nature. Apart from living examples… -
Specific Measures for Mechanical Tea Pruning
For tea trees of different ages, the methods of mechanical pruning vary. For young tea trees, the primary focus is on shaping pruning; for mature tea trees, light and deep pruning are predominant; and for old tea trees, rejuvenation pruning and stump cutting are mainly conducted. Generally, pruning around the time of Jingzhe (Awakening of Insects) yields good results. However, from an economic perspective, young tea trees should be pruned at the beginning of Lichun (Start of Spring), while other tea trees should be pruned after tea picking. Light Pruning Light pruning effectively promotes the sprouting and growth of tea buds. It also increases the density of productive branches, widens the tree canopy, and creates a favorable picking surface. For mature tea trees, light pruning should be conducted every two years, timed when the upper part of the tea tree stops growing. In regions prone to frost damage, pruning can be done half a month to one month before the spring sprouting of tea buds. For famous tea gardens, light pruning can be conducted after spring tea picking. During light pruning, hedging shears or pruning machines are primarily used to trim off about 4 cm of foliage and branches from… -
Why Jingmai Mountain?—The Journey to World Heritage Status for the Ancient Tea Forest Cultural Landscape of Pu’er Jingmai Mountain
On September 17, good news came from Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia: The 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee adopted a resolution to inscribe China's "Ancient Tea Forest Cultural Landscape of Pu'er Jingmai Mountain" on the World Heritage List! This is the world's first tea-themed cultural heritage site and China's 57th, Yunnan Province's 6th entry on the list. What is it about Pu'er Jingmai Mountain that captivates the world? What value does it hold that has earned it the favor and recognition of the World Heritage Committee? What experiences have been had since the application process began in 2010, over these 13 years? All these questions can be distilled into one: Why Jingmai Mountain? A Book of Mountains: What is the Ancient Tea Forest of Jingmai Mountain? The Ancient Tea Forest of Jingmai Mountain is located in Lancang County, Puer City, covering a total area of 19,095.74 hectares, with 7,167.89 hectares designated as the heritage zone. It encompasses two villages, Jingmai and Mangjing, in Humin Town, Lancang County. Five ethnic groups reside here: Dai, Bulang, Hani, Wa, and Han. Before the arrival of the Bulang and Dai peoples, Jingmai Mountain was covered by dense primeval forest, where… -
Discovering Yunnan Tea: Bingdao Xigui – The Rock-Age Old Tree Tea of Yunnan
"Yunnan Rock Tea" is a precious variety that has recently emerged in the world of Pu'er tea in the 21st century. "Yunnan Rock Tea" refers to tea produced from tea plantations and tea trees located in the core area of Bangdong Township and Matai Township in the Linxiang District, as well as Dazhaoxi Town in Yun County (formerly Dashixiang). These areas are at an altitude ranging from about 800 to 2,000 meters and radiate outwards to surrounding regions. It is well known that the renowned Wuyi Rock Tea is highly valued for its irreplicable growing environment. Wuyi Rock Tea is a small-leaf variety; can we find rock tea in the large-leaf tea region of Yunnan? After extensive searches by tea enthusiasts, large-leaf "Yunnan Rock Tea" was found in the middle and lower reaches of the Lancang River, in Bangdong Township and Matai Township of the Linxiang District, as well as Dazhaoxi Town in Yun County. In fact, for thousands of years, locals have coexisted with tea and rocks, with tea sprouting between the crevices of stones. Upon being "rediscovered," "Yunnan Rock Tea" immediately garnered widespread attention and became popular among tea lovers. What makes "Yunnan Rock Tea" especially precious is… -
Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences Tea Research Institute: Emergency Prevention and Remedial Techniques for Extreme Winter Cold Damage in Tea Gardens
Tea plant frost damage refers to the freezing injury that occurs when tea plants are exposed to temperatures below 0°C during the winter dormancy period. The parts of the tea plant most susceptible to frost damage are often the current year's shoots, flower buds, young fruits, and root necks. When a young shoot is slightly damaged by frost, only the pith of the branch may change color. With moderate frost damage, the xylem changes color, and severe frost damage can result in damage to the phloem. When the cambium layer changes color, the branch loses its ability to recover. Damage to the root neck can lead to weakened or complete death of the tea plant. 1. How is tea plant frost damage classified? What are the main symptoms? Frost damage can be categorized based on the cause into snow frost, wind frost, and frost. (1) Snow Frost. Snow damage is a common form of frost damage to tea plants, particularly in high-latitude and high-altitude tea gardens. Tea plants suffering from snow damage show branches broken under the weight of accumulated snow, as well as freezing injury due to alternating freeze-thaw cycles during melting periods, causing uneven temperature changes. In severe… -
Linyi: Provincial Tea Industry Technology System Conducts Cold Resistance Trials and Demonstrations for Tea Plants in Feixian County
In order to effectively ensure the safe overwintering of tea plants and the high-quality production of Guyu tea next year, on December 19, Professor Ding Zhaotang, a Taishan Scholar and Chief Expert of the Provincial Tea Industry Technology System, led his team to Feixian County to conduct a survey on winter tea garden management and cold resistance technology trials and demonstrations. Experts from the Tea Research Institute of Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Liaocheng University, Shandong Agricultural University, the Municipal Agricultural Technology Center, and the Feixian Fruit and Tea Service Center, as well as technical personnel from tea companies, totaling more than 20 people, participated. The winter management of tea gardens is an important part of annual tea production and is also key to increasing the yield of spring tea and improving the quality of fresh leaves. The Provincial Tea Industry Technology System continues to increase its research efforts on winter tea garden management. Chief Expert Ding Zhaotang's team surveyed the basic situation of winter management, ecological environment, and overwintering of tea plants at the tea gardens of Shandong Chunxi Tea Co., Ltd. They analyzed and discussed factors that might cause frost damage in the tea gardens… -
A Detailed Tutorial on Wuyi Rock Tea Refining Techniques by Intangible Cultural Heritage Practitioners, Highly Recommended for Collection!
Wuyi Rock Tea is a traditional Chinese tea renowned for its unique rock aroma and flavor, growing in the crevices of rocks. It is a semi-fermented green tea, with Dahongpao being one of its famous varieties. This article outlines the basic operational techniques and key points of each step in the refining process of Wuyi Rock Tea, aiming to provide guidance for production practice. Refining Techniques for Wuyi Rock Tea The refining of Wuyi Rock Tea involves processing raw tea into finished tea. The primary focus is to remove stems, fragments, and foreign matter, improve the uniformity and purity of the tea's appearance, and enhance its quality. The refining process comprises 13 steps: grading and sorting, preliminary sorting, sifting, cutting and shaping, winnowing (air selection), secondary sorting, blending, baking, cooling, packing (into boxes or barrels), storage, blending, additional baking, and packaging. Flow Chart of Wuyi Rock Tea Refining Process Grading and Sorting Grading and sorting are primarily for preparing raw tea for blending. Based on sensory evaluation results using the national standard samples or trade samples of Wuyi Rock Tea, raw teas are sorted according to their origin, variety, season, and quality. Specific steps for sorting raw tea: Samples are… -
Detection Technology: Determination of Ellagic Acid Content in Pu’er Ripened Tea by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
Ellagic acid (EA) is a biologically active phenolic compound widely present in plant tissues such as fruits and nuts, with its structure shown in Figure 1. It is a dimeric derivative of gallic acid. In nature, ellagic acid mainly exists in condensed forms, such as ellagitannins. Ellagic acid is essentially non-toxic and has a significant inhibitory effect on chemically-induced carcinogenesis and various types of cancers, including colon cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, lymphoma, and others. Additionally, ellagic acid also exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, melanin inhibition, and leukemia improvement effects. Due to its excellent biological activity, ellagic acid is widely used in health foods, medicine, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and other fields. Studies have shown that tea is an important dietary source of ellagitannins and ellagic acid, which are converted from ellagitannins through human gut microbiota metabolism. ▲ Human Metabolic Pathway Pu'er ripened tea, a famous Yunnan tea, is a unique microbial-fermented tea made from large-leaf sun-dried green tea. The essence of solid-state fermentation in Pu'er ripened tea is primarily the result of moist heat, enzymatic actions, and microbial activities. During the fermentation process of large-leaf green teas, microbial metabolism releases a large amount of heat, and the enzymes… -
Jingmai Mountain Welcomes Its First Spring Tea Harvest Season After World Heritage Success
Budding and turning green Ancient trees come to life in spring Not long ago Jingmai Mountain, in Lancang Lahu Autonomous County, Yunnan Province welcomed the first spring tea harvest of the year for its ancient tea trees. Spring tea from Jingmai Mountain. Photo by Li Maoying Since the 10th century, the Bulang and Dai ethnic groups migrated to settle on Jingmai Mountain, where they discovered wild tea trees and developed a forest-based ecosystem to cultivate "forest tea," gradually forming vast ancient tea forests. Last September, the "Pu'er Jingmai Mountain Ancient Tea Forest Cultural Landscape" was inscribed on the World Heritage List, increasing China's number of World Heritage sites to 57. This year's spring tea harvest is also the first after the successful nomination of the Jingmai Mountain Ancient Tea Forest Cultural Landscape as a World Heritage site. As the world's first tea-themed World Heritage project, the element of "tea" is everywhere on Jingmai Mountain. This spring, let us venture into Jingmai Mountain to appreciate the beauty of this "World Tea Culture Historical and Natural Museum." Households on Jingmai Mountain begin picking and processing tea. Photo by Li Maoying The mountains are lush and verdant, but there are no visible rows… -
Albino Tea Cutting Propagation Techniques, Save for Later!
Short-shoot cutting propagation of tea plants not only preserves the superior characteristics of the parent tree but also achieves rapid multiplication of tea seedlings, making it the optimal approach for the advancement of clonal varieties of tea, including albino tea. Technological Process for Propagation Propagation Plan: Determine the variety, quantity, and timing of propagation, prepare funds, materials, and labor accordingly. Cultivate Cuttings: Decide on the source of cuttings and arrange for their cultivation in advance. Nursery Preparation: Prepare the nursery and seedbeds in advance and equip them with necessary materials. Pruning and Propagating: Prune cuttings, propagate them, and manage the nursery concurrently. Nursery Management: Manage water, temperature, light, fertilization, pest and weed control, and branch control. Transplanting Seedlings: Prepare for water control in the nursery, packaging materials, and transplant seedlings according to standards. Propagation Cycle and Timing The propagation cycle for cutting propagation typically requires one year for the growth of healthy, qualified tea seedlings. However, with advancements in propagation and planting techniques, the cycle is trending towards shortening. Many self-breeders opt for transplanting small-sized seedlings in nearby areas with favorable ecological conditions. When using advanced facilities such as greenhouses, the seedlings often meet the required specifications without needing a… -
Puer Tea: The Sacred Land of Ancient Trees at Xigui
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… -
Bingdao Five Villages: A Rising Star in Lincang, the Heart of Mengku
It is often said that within the entire Lincang tea region, Yongde lies to the west and Bangdong to the east, with Mengku situated right in between. For the "two mountains flanking a river" topography of Mengku, the Bingdao tea area is located along the Mengku River, precisely in the middle of the eastern and western mountain slopes. Perhaps it is due to its central location that this region enjoys a unique natural climate, giving rise to Bingdao – a star in the world of Pu'er tea. In this article, we will have a brief chat about the Bingdao Five Villages. Nuowu Old Village Traveling from Lincang to Bingdao via Nanmeng direction, after driving for about two and a half hours on a fully paved road, you reach the administrative territory of Bingdao village. The Bingdao Five Villages refer to five natural villages under the jurisdiction of Bingdao administrative village, divided into two halves by the Mengku River. Strictly speaking, Bingdao Old Village, Dijie, and Nanpo belong to the western mountain slope, while Bawai and Nuowu are located on the eastern mountain slope. However, the Pu'er tea produced in these five natural villages is generally referred to as Bingdao tea… -
Menghai Ban Zhang Village: Aromatic Tea and Ancient Charm, Pearl on the Frontier
In the depths of Brown Mountain, Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, lies a village brimming with historical charm and natural beauty—Ban Zhang Village. “Red wine is judged by its chateau, Pu'er by its mountain origin.” Photograph of ancient tea tree branches in Ban Zhang by Zhang Hongping Ban Zhang Village, a large family composed of five natural villages—Old Ban Zhang, New Ban Zhang, Laoman'e, Dakalong, and Dakanuan—each preserving unique cultural traditions of the Bulang, Hani, and Lahu ethnic groups. Here, ancient tea trees coexist with the forest, known for their great age and superior quality, earning Ban Zhang the title of "China's No.1 Pu'er Tea Village." Tea farmer Tu Mei has been involved with tea since childhood. Her life is closely tied to tea, and she holds deep feelings for it. She reflects, “The techniques for making tea have become increasingly sophisticated, allowing the tea to retain more of its essence and aroma, resulting in higher-quality tea production.” The unique geographical and climatic conditions here make the Pu'er tea a favorite among countless tea enthusiasts. Photograph of the ancient tea mountain trail in Brown Mountain by Zhang Hongping The unique natural scenery and rich cultural heritage of… -
Understanding the Characteristics of the Dangguo Pu’er Tea Flavor
Dangguo Pu'er tea mountain is located on the western half of the Mengku tea mountain, at an altitude of 1,750 meters. This village hidden deep in the western half of the mountain is composed of four natural villages: Waizhai, Yizhai, Baqishan, and Molie. The villagers of Dangguo mostly live off tea, with a combined tea land area of nearly 6,000 mu, making it the largest tea plantation area on the western half of the mountain. The old and new tea lands are roughly equal in size. In Yizhai, Dangguo, there is still a robust ancient cultivated tea garden preserved today, testifying to Dangguo being a tea mountain with a long history. Additionally, the Dangguo tea area has climatic characteristics of low temperatures, high humidity, and abundant mist. The dense forests and diverse vegetation provide an excellent ecological environment for the growth of Dangguo tea. They restrain and rely on each other, keeping the ecological environment relatively stable. This endows Dangguo tea with a vibrant vitality. A unique "natural management method" makes Dangguo tea even more imbued with the atmosphere of the mountains and forests. Without artificial fertilization or excessive development, the tea plants are allowed to grow naturally. Each tea… -
Main Pests in Autumn Tea Gardens and Their Control Measures
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… -
Rhinoceros Pond Belongs to Which Village?
Rhinoceros Pond Pu'er tea production area is located in Pasazhong Village, Pasha Village Committee, Gelanghe Township, Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture. Rhinoceros Pond is locally known as Naiya Lang. Introduction to Pasha Rhinoceros Pond In recent years, with the rising reputation of “Pasha tea,” whether it be Old Pasha, Middle Pasha, or New Pasha, all have reaped a wave of benefits. Especially noteworthy is New Pasha, which introduced a niche mountain region—the Rhinoceros Pond. The Pasha Rhinoceros Pond is a niche regional cooperative brand created through the joint efforts of all villagers and cadres of New Pasha, attracting external investment. It has gained the favor of many tea enthusiasts and has become one of the few active regions among mountain teas in 2022. Not only did it liven up the atmosphere on the mountain, but it also successfully held ceremonies for the adoption and mining of the Rhinoceros Pond tea king tree. Ecosystem of Rhinoceros Pond Rhinoceros Pond is relatively far from the village and has seen very little human intervention. The ancient tea gardens are lush with vegetation, have thick layers of humus beneath the forest floor, and boast fertile soil. The tea produced here is rich in… -
Cloudy Mist Chrysanthemum Tea Production Technique
The people of Shennongjia have had a tradition of drinking tea since ancient times, with green tea being a household staple. Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica records: “Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs and encountered seventy-two poisons in a single day, only to be saved by tea.” The Chinese tea sage, Lu Yu, also stated: “Tea as a beverage originated with Shennong.”The discovery of tea by Shennong is recounted in multiple versions, with the most widely spread ones including: Shennong was poisoned and collapsed under a tea tree, whereupon water dripped from the leaves above into his mouth, reviving him. Another account says that while boiling water, leaves from a tea tree fell into Shennong’s pot; after drinking this concoction, he found that these bitter yet sweet leaves could invigorate one’s spirit, thus uncovering the medicinal properties of tea. Cloudy Mist tea plantation at Qingtianpao with chrysanthemums Cloudy Mist tea belongs to the category of famous green teas. Cloudy Mist Chrysanthemum Tea is a type of tea made using Cloudy Mist tea. Its shape resembles a chrysanthemum flower, hence its name. It primarily grows in an area of Qingtianpao between 1,300 and 1,700 meters above sea level. Qingtianpao is located between… -
Exploring the Origin: The Wild Charm of Zhenghe Ancient Tree White Tea
Stepping into Zhenghe, one is greeted by towering mountains, peaks vying in beauty, and misty veils. It's clear at a glance that this is prime territory for producing fine tea. The forest coverage rate reaches 71.7%, with suitable temperature, light, and water sources, creating a lush and fertile core production area for Zhenghe teas. Gazing out, ancient tea trees stretch as far as the eye can see, in forests, on cliffs, and in ravines… The rich vegetation system and complete biological chain provide an excellent environment for tea trees, resulting in superior tea quality and the unique wild charm of the ancient tree white tea. The conditions for the growth of these ancient tea trees are exceptional, almost as if bestowed by nature. According to Lu Yu's Classic of Tea, regarding the origin of tea: Its habitat: the best grow on crumbling rocks, the middling on gravelly soil, and the worst on yellow earth. Wild-grown is the best, plantation-grown is second-rate… These ancient tea trees grow on crumbling rocks, cliff faces, and rock crevices… With ages all above 100 years, they are truly venerable old trees, a rarity among Fujian white teas. Located on steep mountain paths, harvesting is challenging,… -
Scientific Fertilization for Green, High-Yield, and Efficient Tea Production
Good tea thrives with proper nutrition; fertilizers are the material foundation for increasing yield and improving quality in tea production. Fertilization plays a crucial role in the growth of tea plants and the yield and quality of tea leaves. While some nutrients are supplied by the soil itself, its nutrient content is limited and subject to environmental factors, leading to significant losses through leaching and volatilization, which greatly reduces nutrient availability. This is insufficient to meet the needs of tea plant growth, let alone high yields and quality standards. Additionally, as a leaf-harvesting crop, the annual harvest of large quantities of buds and leaves removes a certain amount of nutrients. Therefore, most nutrients must be replenished through fertilization. When soil nutrient imbalances occur or there is an extreme deficiency of one or more nutrients, it is necessary to use appropriate fertilizers to correct the nutritional deficiencies to ensure high-yield and high-quality tea production. Therefore, proper management of tea gardens during different seasons is crucial, and fertilization is a key technology in garden management that should receive significant attention. Especially during autumn, a critical period for tea garden management, the focus is on rapidly restoring tree vigor to lay the groundwork… -
“Grass to Suppress Grass” Method: Intercropping White Clover in Tea Gardens
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… -
What You Need to Know About Tea Garden Management After Drought Relief
The regional high-temperature drought that began in June 2022 caused varying degrees of damage to tea trees in some areas of our country. During the drought, we recommended not to carry out field operations such as picking, pruning, fertilizing, spraying pesticides, tilling, and weeding. However, with the recent drop in temperature and the arrival of autumn rains, the drought situation in the tea gardens has been significantly alleviated. With the onset of autumn, tea garden management needs to be stepped up, and the main task at this stage is to restore the vitality of the tea trees. Pruning Dead Branches It is now September, and the time for new shoots to grow on the tea trees is extremely limited; therefore, try to prune less and retain more in tea garden management. For those affected lightly, such as only partial leaf scorching, no treatment is needed, allowing the tea tree to self-repair. For severe cases where branches of the tea tree have died, prune off the withered, yellowed, and scorched branches and leaves to reduce water evaporation and the spread of necrotic tissues. Prune 1–2 cm below the dead parts to minimize energy consumption and transpiration in the tea tree. Light… -
Jiujia, the Tea King’s Secret Garden
The Tea King resides high in the Qianjiazhai area, leaning against the peak of Mount Daxueguoshan, the highest point of Ailao Mountain, a dignified and tranquil abode. Two waterfalls like white ribbons cascade down from Qianjiazhai, nourishing Jiujia—the Tea King's secret garden. Here, various rare flowers and herbs, exotic animals, and birds grow alongside the Tea King's carefully cultivated offspring. Encountering an ancient small-leaf tea tree in Jiujia If Zhenyuan is the domain of the Tea King and Qianjiazhai his residence, then Jiujia is his secret garden. Here, not only do all kinds of rare flowers, herbs, and exotic wildlife flourish, but also the Tea King's carefully bred descendants. Located in the northeastern part of Zhenyuan County, on the southwestern slope of Ailao Mountain, Jiujia Town borders Sanzhangtian Township to the southeast, overlooks Huashan Township in Jingdong County across the Ganhe River to the southwest, connects with Ejia Town in Shuangbai County to the north, and joins Zhenlong Town in Xinping County at the peak of Mount Liangzi to the northeast. Due to the discovery of the Qianjiazhai Tea King Tree and 495,000 ancient wild tea trees, the once obscure Jiujia has gained significant renown in the Pu'er tea world.…