Tea
Planting
Land preparation must take into consideration the following:
- Ensure adequate protection from soil erosion.
- Good cultivation for optimal rate development.
- Adequate shade to protect the exposed soil and young plants.
- If the land suffers from serious water logging, it should
be adequately drained
- On sloping land, terraces and drains will take care of
erosion.
Age and size of plants
Plants raised in polythene sleeves are taken directly to
the planting sites. Plants are transplanted usually between
10 to 20 months from sowing seeds or planting cutting. In
cold climate where growth is slow, plants may have to be retained
in the nursery for 2 full growing seasons i.e. from 18 to
24 months, depending on the time of propagation and the kind
of plants. There are both advantages and disadvantages in
transferring plants from the nursery to the field earlier
than the usual time of transplanting. Plants cannot develop
properly in the nursery if in the initial phase of growth
the soil contained in a sleeve is inadequate for sustaining
healthy growth of plants for long.
Fertilizer
Applying phosphate at the time of planting benefits the growth
of young plants. Initially, holes are dug for planting. These
planting holes may vary from 30 cm to 60 cm in diameter and
45 cm to 60 cm in depth. The soil is removed from the hole,
mixed with phosphatic fertiliser and then returned to the
hole at the time of planting. Often, dry, well rotted cattle
manure mixed with phosphate is also used as a planting mixture.
Inorganic fertiliser mixture are generally not applied until
the plants have been firmly established in their new location.
Climate
A cool humid climate and a moist soil are best for transplanting
Planting density
When deciding the bush population, the gap between hedges
should be 120 cm. in the plains or 90 cm. in the hills and
the centre of the hedge should be conveniently reached. This
will ensure optimum plucking productivity.
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