Journal of Tea Science Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.4, 215-224 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/jtsr 218 3.3 Pest and disease management Sustainable pest and disease management practices are essential for maintaining high tea yield and ensuring ecological balance. Eliminating the use of chemical pesticides and integrating organic pest and disease control methods can effectively manage pests and diseases while minimizing environmental impacts. Studies have shown that eliminating pesticide use and replacing chemical fertilizers with organic alternatives can significantly reduce pesticide residues in tea leaves and minimize nutrient loss in runoff (Xie et al., 2018). This approach not only protects the environment but also maintains tea yield and quality. Agroecological management practices, such as the use of natural predators and biopesticides, can also enhance pest and disease control in tea plantations. These practices improve soil health and biodiversity, which in turn supports the natural regulation of pest populations (Le et al., 2023). Additionally, maintaining a diverse microbial community in the soil through organic amendments and reduced chemical inputs can enhance the resilience of tea plants to pests and diseases. By adopting sustainable pest and disease management practices, tea growers can achieve high yields while preserving the ecological integrity of their plantations. 4 Impact of Environmental Sustainability on Tea Yield 4.1 Ecological footprint of tea cultivation Intensive tea farming practices have significant ecological footprints, primarily due to the extensive use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and mechanized farming techniques. These practices lead to soil degradation, water pollution, and increased greenhouse gas emissions. For instance, conventional tea cultivation in Northern Vietnam has been shown to degrade soil health and increase environmental pollution, despite providing higher yields compared to agroecological practices (Le et al., 2023). Similarly, intensive farming practices in Assam, India, have been linked to increased vulnerability of tea plantations to climate change, with higher temperatures and precipitation variability negatively impacting tea yields (Duncan et al., 2016). Moreover, the environmental impact of tea cultivation is not limited to soil degradation. Tea-planted soils are significant sources of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. A global meta-analysis revealed that tea plantations emit substantially higher levels of N2O compared to cereal croplands, highlighting the need for climate-smart agricultural practices in tea production (Wang et al., 2020). The high nitrogen fertilizer doses commonly used in tea farming contribute to soil acidification and increased N2O emissions, further exacerbating the ecological footprint of tea cultivation. 4.2 Sustainable practices for high-yield farming To minimize the ecological impacts of tea cultivation while maintaining high yields, several sustainable practices have been proposed and implemented. Agroecological management practices, such as those studied in Northern Vietnam, have shown promise in enhancing soil health and providing economic benefits to farmers. These practices include the use of organic fertilizers, crop rotation, and reduced chemical inputs, which collectively improve soil organic matter, pH, and biological activity (Le et al., 2023). Despite slightly lower yields, farmers adopting agroecological practices earned significantly higher net incomes compared to those using conventional methods. Another approach to sustainable tea farming is the integration of agroforestry systems, which combine tea cultivation with the planting of trees and other crops. This practice not only diversifies income sources for farmers but also improves soil health, reduces erosion, and enhances biodiversity. An agroforestry landscape in a tea plantation in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, integrates the cultivation of tea plants with other vegetation, enhancing the aesthetic appeal while effectively improving soil health and ecological diversity (Figure 2). In Bangladesh, land suitability assessments using GIS and remote sensing have identified areas where agroforestry can be effectively implemented to support sustainable tea production (Das et al., 2020). Additionally, organic farming practices, including the use of locally sourced organic fertilizers and improved harvesting techniques, have been shown to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the sustainability of tea production (Rigarlsford et al., 2020).
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