Since February 22, most areas of our province, except some Tea regions in Qiandongnan and Qiannan such as Qiannanwest, have suffered from a sudden drop in temperature and extreme weather conditions of low temperature and freezing. Preliminary investigations indicate that tea trees in various tea regions have shown varying degrees of symptoms of low-temperature stress, with more severe impacts in higher altitude tea gardens, leading to reduced yields or delayed picking. To mitigate the effects of low temperatures and freezing on spring tea, experts from the Tea Special Task Force, Guizhou Tea Research Institute, Zunyi Comprehensive Test Station of the National Tea Industry Technology System, and Guizhou Province Tea Industry Technology System have jointly studied and proposed the following remedial measures:
1. Timely and Moderate Pruning
After temperatures stabilize, prune according to the degree of freezing damage to the tea plants, removing frozen branches and leaves promptly. Pruning should be carried out after the temperature rises and will not cause further serious freezing damage. The depth of pruning should vary depending on the severity of the freeze, ideally cutting 2-3 cm deeper than the dead tissue.
For lightly frozen tea plants where only the edges of mature leaves or winter bud scales are affected, no pruning is necessary. For tea gardens where only the top buds are frozen, remove the frozen tender shoots. If over half of the winter buds in a tea garden are frozen and cannot sprout, timely pruning and discarding of the first pick should be carried out. At the same time, use immunostimulants and biocontrol agents to enhance resistance, speed up wound healing, and help the tea plants recover quickly, preventing pathogens from infecting through leaf wounds and causing widespread disease outbreaks.
2. Shallow Cultivation and Fertilization
To promote the growth of tea plants, Fertilizer management needs to be strengthened. After pruning frozen tea plants, combine with weather forecasts to manage fertilization and irrigation; fertilization should generally be completed by early March. Use fast-acting fertilizers, ensuring sufficient nitrogen while adding an appropriate amount of potassium fertilizer, and if possible, supplement with amino acid water-soluble fertilizers.
3. Regeneration of Damaged Canopies Through Retention
In terms of picking methods, focus on retaining new shoots in frozen tea gardens. For tea gardens with light pruning of frozen branches and leaves, leave one true leaf during the spring picking. For those with heavy pruning, focus on nurturing to ensure the retention of productive branches and Canopy recovery.
When warmer days return, let us welcome a bountiful harvest together.