Tea (Camellia sinensis L. O. Kuntze.) Camelliaceae

Horticulture :: Plantation Crops :: Tea
Tea (Camellia sinensis L. O. Kuntze.) Camelliaceae Tea Board of India World - Tea Production Map India - Tea Production Map Varieties Pandian, Sundaram, Golconda, Jayaram, Evergreen, Athrey, Brookeland, BSS 1, BSS 2, BSS 3, BSS 4, BSS 5, Biclonal seed stocks and Grafts. Tea Bush  Tea Flower Tea cultivars with special characters S.No Special characters Clone Originators 1 Wind Tolerance UPASI-2  UPASI-10 UPASI-TRF India 2 Drought resistance UPASI-9 UPASI-TRF India 3 Frost resistance B-26 HPKV-TES India 4 Smallest leaf CH-1 IHBT India 5 Biggest Leaf Betjan BETJAN T.E, India 6 Blister blight tolerance TRI-2043, TRI, Sri Lanka 7 High pubescence TRI-2043 TRI, Sri Lanka 8 High anthocyanin pigmentation TRI-2025 TRI Sri Lanka 9 High tolerance to pH TN-14-3 TRF, Kenya 10 Poor fermenter 12/2 TRF, Kenya 11 Mite tolerance 7/9 TRF, Kenya 12 Scale insect tolerance TN-14-3 TRF, Kenya 13 High polyphenol content (53.7%) Luxi white tea TRI, China 14 High amino acid content (6.5%) Anji white tea TRI, China 15 Low caffeine content (0.14%) Guangdong tea TRI, China 16 High caffeine content (6.96%) Wild tea at Yunnan TRI, China 17 Water logging tolerance TV-9 TES, India (Mondal et al., 2004) Improved clones S.No Clone Important features 1 UPASI 1 (Ever green) Hardy, Quality-Above average 2 UPASI 2 (Jayaram) Hardy, Quality-Above average, tolerant to drought and wind 3 UPASI 3 (Sundaram) Natural triploid quality clones and very high yielding 4 UPASI 6 (Brooklands) Suited to mid and higher elevations 5 UPASI 8 (Golconda) Suited to all elevations, high yielding 6 UPASI 9  (Arthrey) Firly tolerant to drought and withstand slightly high pH, , high yielding 7 UPASI 10 (Pandian) Hardy, Quality-Above average, tolerant to drought and wind 8 UPASI 14 (Singara) Suited to higher elevations , High yield 9 UPASI 15 (Spring field) Flushes throughout the year 10 UPASI 17 (Swarna) Flourishing well at mid and high elevations 11 UPASI 24 Hardy 12 UPASI 25 High yielding 13 UPASI 16 High yielding 14 UPASI 27 Drought tolerant 15 UPASI 28 (UPASI 10 * TRI2025) Biclonal, Good strength and high quality Soil and climate Tea requires well drained soil with high amount of organic matter and pH 4.5 to 5.5. The performance of tea is excellent at elevations ranging from 1000 - 2500 m.Optimum temperature: 20 - 270 C. Nursery The nursery soil should be well drained and deep loam in nature with pH of 4.5 to 4.8. The soil and sand used in the preparation of rooting medium should be tested for pH and nematode infestation. Nursery Artificial Shade by Erecting Pandal Polythene Tent with Tea Seedllings Pre-treatment of rooting medium Treating with Aluminium sulphate can reduce soil pH. For this purpose the nursery soil is formed into beds of one metre width and about 8 cm height and of a convenient length. Then the beds are drenched with 2% solution of Aluminium sulphate applied at 10 litres/2.5 sq.m of area. Over this another layer of soil of 8 cm height is spread and again drenched with equal quantity of water twice.  Then the soil is allowed to dry and the pH is checked before use in the nursery. Preparation of sleeves Polythene sleeves of 150 or 200 gauge and 10 cm width and 30 - 45 cm length may be used. Drainage holes may be provided at the bottom. The lower 3/4 of the sleeves should be filled with 1:3 sand and soil mixture and the top 1/4 with 1:1 sand and soil mixture and staked in rows. Overhead shade is provided. Selection of mother bush and its treatment Healthy and vigorously growing high yielding bushes should be selected.  Apply to each selected bush with 40 g of young tea mixture + 60:90 NK mixture up to 5 years. The following mixture has to applied before taking the cuttings. 0.5 % AlSO4 + 1 % MgSO4 (before 3 weeks) 2 % Zn SO4 (before 2 weeks) 1 % Urea (before 1 week) Preparation of cuttingsCuttings are taken on April - May and August - September. Semi hard-wood cuttings are prepared with one leaf and an internode with a slanting cut at the bottom. Planting of cuttings The sleeves are watered thoroughly and holes are made in the soil. The cuttings are inserted in the hole and the soil around is pressed firmly to avoid airspace followed by watering. Small polythene tents may be provided which maintain high humidity and regulate the temperature inside. Cuttings may take 10 - 12 weeks for rooting. After 90 days i.e. when all the cuttings have rooted, the polythene tent may be removed gradually over a period of 10 - 15 days. Manuring of nursery After the tent is removed the cuttings are sorted and staked. 30 g of Nursery soluble mixture of the following composition dissolved in 10 litres of water may be applied over an area of 4 sq.m. This should be done fortnightly. Composition of the fertilizer                 Ammonium phosphate (20:20)                  35 parts by Wt                 Potassium sulphate                                 15 parts by Wt                                 (or)                     MOP                                                  12 parts by Wt                 Magnesium sulphate                                15 parts by Wt                 Zinc sulphate                                           3 parts by Wt                                  Total                                     80 parts by Wt Hardening of the cuttings Hardening of 4 - 6 months old young cuttings should be done by removing shade gradually in stages over a period of 4 - 6 weeks starting from a few hours exposure to sun every day initially and extending the time of exposure gradually. Methods of planting Single Hedge System In this method, the spacing adopted is 1.20 x 0.75 m accommodating 10,800 plants/ha. Double Hedge System In this method, the spacing adopted is 1.35 x 0.75 x 0.75 m accommodating 13,200 plants/ha. Season and planting May - June or September - October Sleeves should be opened lengthwise without injuring the roots and planted in the pit and the soil is gently pressed. Irrigation Subsoil irrigation may be given for young tea seedlings during summer months. Vegetative Propagation Manuring Manuring should be done 2 months after planting. Phosphorous should be applied at 80 - 100 kg/ha as Rock phosphate once in a year by placement at 15 - 25 cm depth up to the first pruning and thereafter once in two years.  N : K ratio 2 : 3 should be adapted for the first 3 years and a ratio 1 : 1 thereafter. Year of application Total weight kg/ha/annum No. of applications Qty/plant (g) N K Ammonium Sulphate Urea I year 180 270 5 13 27 II year 240 360 6 23 15 III year 300 450 6 29 18 IV year onwards 300 300 6 33 19 Application of fertilizers should be done before the onset of monsoon.  Fertilizers should be broadcast around the drip circle avoiding contact with the collar. Aftercultivation Perennial grasses (Forbicot weeds) can be controlled by spraying Glyphosate 1.75 lit + Kaoline 2 lit + 2 kg of wetting agent in 450 lit. of water followed by Gramoxone 500 ml in 200 lit of water to control dicot weeds. Training young tea Centering To induce more laterals, centering should be done 3 - 5 months after planting.  The main leader stem should be cut, leaving 8 - 10 matured leaves. Tipping Tipping is done at a height of 35 cm from the second tipping at 60 cm from ground level. Pruning Pruning is done to maintain convenient height of bush and to remove dead and diseased branches. Area to be pruned every year =     Total extent of the garden                                                            Pruning cycle Pruning interval = (Elevation in feet / 1000)   + 1 Pruning should be done in April - May or August - September. Types of pruning Rejuvenation pruning The whole bush should be cut near the ground level less than 30 cm with a view to rejuvenate the bushes. Hard pruning Hard/ formation pruning of young tea is done at 30 to 45 cm (12" to 18") for proper spread of bushes. Medium pruning To check the bush growing to an inconvenient height this type of pruning is done in order to stimulate new wood and to maintain the foliage at lower levels less than 60 cm. Light pruning Pruning depends on the previous history of the bush raising the height of medium pruning by an inch or less to manageable heights for plucking (less than 65 cm). Skiffing This is the lightest of all pruning methods.  A removal of only the top 5 - 8 cm new growth is done so as to obtain a uniform level of pruning surface (more than 65 cm). Pruned Plant Shade regulation Pollarding of shade trees should be done prior to heavy rains at a height of 8 - 10 m from the ground level. Shade Trees Annual lopping Cutting the erect type branches on the laterals in shade trees before monsoon season. Plant protection Scales Scales can be controlled by spraying Carbaryl 50 WP @ 2 g/lit. or Quinalphos 25 EC @ 2 ml/lit or Chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 2 ml/lit. Sahydrassis / Phassus borer Locate the particle mat covering at the base tea bush and remove. Insert a thick wire in the bore hole to kill the larvae. Thrips Spray any one of the following insecticide Insecticide Dose Azadirachtin 5 % Neem extract concentrate 5.0 ml/10 lit. Azadirachtin 1.0 % EC (neem based) 2.0 ml/lit. Ethion 50%EC 5.0 ml/10 lit. Profenofos 50 % EC 2.0 ml/lit. Quinalphos 25 % EC 7.5 ml/10 lt Aphids Spray phosalone 35 % EC @ 2.0 ml/lit Red spider mite, Pinkmite, scarlet mite Insecticide Dose Azadirachtin 5 % Neem extract concentrate 5.0 ml/10 lit. Azadirachtin 1.0 % EC (neem based) 2.0 ml/lit. Dicofol 18.5 % SC 2.0 ml/lit. Ethion 50%EC 5.0 ml/10 lit. Fenazaquin 10 % EC 1.6 ml/lit Fenpyroximate 5 % EC 1.2 ml/lit Flumite 20%SC/flufenzine 20%SC 5.0 ml/10 lit Hexythiazox 5.45% EC 1.2 ml/lit Phosalone 35 % EC 1.0 ml/lit Profenofos 50 % EC 2.0 ml/lit. Propargite 57 % EC 2.0 ml/lit. Spiromesifen 22.9 % SC 1.0 ml/lit. Tea mosquito bug: Monitoring the incidence of tea mosquito bugs at regular intervals. Removal of alternate hosts like neem, cashew, guava in the surroundings When the infestation is lesser: Spraying of any one of the following: Imidacloprid (0.6 ml/l) Thiamethoxan (0.6 g /l) Profenophos (2 ml/l). Diseases Blister blight Blister blight can be controlled by adopting the following control measures. Spray 210 g Copper oxychloride and Nickel chloride per ha at 5 days interval from June - September; 11 days intervals in October and November. Spray Hexagonazole 200 ml + Copper oxychloride 210 g 5 days interval/ha (or) Blister blight Crop duration and harvest                   Banji bud                                           Harvesting in tea     Plucking commences when the tea bush is 3 years old. The plucking of extreme tip of the growing branch consists of an unopened bud together with two leaves is popularly known as "Two leaves and a bud", while fine plucking is anything less than this. In South India plucking continues throughout the year at weekly intervals during March - May and at intervals of 10 -14 days during the other months. Rush period During rush period harvesting is done at 7 to 10 days interval. Lean period During lean period harvesting is done at 10 – 15 days interval. Banji bud Harvesting in tea Freshly Picked Tea Leaves Plucking Standard Yield The yield of green leaves is 10 t/ha Different Types of Tea Black Tea                                                   Green Tea      Black Tea                                                   Oolong Tea Tea Grades Tea Processing Steps Market Information Growing Districts Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Dindigul, Theni, Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli districts Major markets in Tamil Nadu Coimbatore, Nilgiris Grade specification Size of the tea leaves : Whole, large tea – Higher grading Method of production : CTC process (Crush, Tear and Curl) and Orthodox Tea Seed