Recently, affected by a strong cold air front, temperatures in Guangdong have dropped significantly, with some areas experiencing snow, ice, and freezing conditions, especially in the northern Tea regions of Renhua, Lechang, and Lianshan, where “icicles” have appeared. To minimize the impact of low temperatures on tea production, reporters from Nongcun Nanfang Daily and the Southern Tea Channel contacted experts from the Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences Tea Research Institute, the National Tea Industry Technology System Qingyuan Comprehensive Test Station, and the Guangdong Tea Industry Technology System to provide advice for tea farmers on how to implement effective Frost protection measures for their tea plants, thus strengthening prevention and ensuring the safety of tea production.
Impact of Frost Damage on Tea Plants
After suffering from frost damage, tea plants may exhibit symptoms such as discolored and dried leaves, dead branches, and trunks. This can also delay the sprouting of spring tea, leading to reduced yield and quality, which affects economic benefits.
Symptoms of frost damage in tea plants
Care for Frost-Damaged Tea Plants
1. Care for Dormant Tea Plants Affected by Frost: For varieties with good cold resistance, timely drainage is needed to prevent repeated freeze-thaw cycles that can damage the root system and cause dehydration and green wilting above ground. Snow and icicles should be promptly removed to avoid further frost damage and branch breakage. For varieties with poor cold resistance, in addition to the above care measures, light Pruning of frost-damaged branches and leaves should be performed when temperatures rise to prevent the expansion of frost-injured and dead parts. The cut should be about 2 cm deeper than the frost-damaged area. Pruning should be done when local temperatures stabilize and rise, usually around late February to early March. 2. Care for Growing Tea Plants Affected by Frost: Regardless of the cold resistance of the tea plant variety, when strong cold air causes frost damage during the growth period, the following points need to be addressed: (1) Timely drainage; (2) Prompt removal of snow and frost; (3) Pruning of frost-damaged branches and leaves; (4) Strengthen nutrient management. After pruning frost-damaged tea plants, balanced fertilization should be applied based on actual conditions, including increased application of organic fertilizer to strengthen the tree's vitality and improve its resistance. Additionally, spraying appropriate foliar fertilizers can also help restore the tree's strength. To enhance the frost protection capability of tea gardens, daily management should also include the following measures.
3. Frost Protection Measures for Tea Plants
1. Establish an Ecological Tea Garden Planting Model: In tea planting areas prone to frost, strengthen the management of tea garden fertilization and irrigation, increase the application of organic fertilizers, and establish a composite ecological tea garden to improve the microclimate of the tea garden, protect the growth of tea plants, and enhance their frost resistance. Trees should be planted around or within the tea garden. Along main roads and channels, landscape trees can be planted, such as Taiwan Acacia, Osmanthus fragrans, Eugenia uniflora, Acer mono, Michelia alba, Machilus thunbergii, and Endiandra chinensis, etc. Grass can be grown along terraces and slopes, such as creeping magnolia, Amorpha fruticosa, Lablab purpureus, and honeysuckle. If there are farmlands around the tea garden, a buffer zone should be set up, usually about 20 meters wide, which can be natural vegetation or artificially planted forest belts.
Situation after frost in a composite ecological planting model
Situation after frost in a monoculture planting model
2. Change Winter Pruning to Summer Pruning: In tea gardens located in areas prone to frost, especially those with large-leaf tea plants, winter pruning can be changed to summer pruning.
Situation before and after winter pruning of large-leaf tea plants affected by frost
3. Covering Tea Gardens for Frost Protection: Shade nets or non-woven fabrics can be used to cover the canopy of tea plants; covering with a height of 20-30 cm above the tea rows will provide better frost protection. Additionally, crop straw and other materials can be used to cover the canopy of tea plants, with a thickness of about 4-8 cm; laying straw between rows can also increase soil temperature and reduce the impact on the roots.
Situation after frost when tea plants are covered with shade nets
Situation after frost with frame covering and straw laid between rows
4. Smoking for Frost Protection: Based on weather forecasts, smoking can be carried out before late frosts occur by using humid crop straw or burned charcoal ash to raise the temperature in the tea garden and prevent frost.
Smoking for frost protection
5. Sprinkler Irrigation for Frost Protection: For tea gardens with sprinkler systems, sprinkling can be done after morning temperatures rise, typically after 9 am, which helps raise the temperature of the tea plants. Since night temperatures are low and easily freeze, watering in the evening would worsen the impact of ice on the tea plants.
[Source] Nongcun Nanfang Daily
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