Journal of Tea Science Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.5, 262-272 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/jtsr 264 2.2 Primary tea varieties and their growth characteristics The Dongping High Mountain Tea Garden cultivates several premium tea varieties, including the clonal cultivars Zhongcha 108, Baiye No.1, and Zhonghuang No.2, as well as the Jiukeng variety. Each tea variety demonstrates unique growth characteristics and adaptability across different soil conditions (Wang, 2021). The clonal variety Zhongcha 108 has trees aged 11 and 15 years, mainly planted in red, yellow-sandy, and gray ash soils. Red soil has strong clay content and excellent water and nutrient retention, ideal for healthy tea tree growth; gray ash soil is loose and fertile, providing an optimal environment; yellow-sandy soil has a sandy upper layer with a clay-rich subsoil, which also supports water and nutrient retention (Lai and Peng, 2019; Kayama et al., 2020; Bruun et al., 2022). Consequently, Zhongcha 108 grows vigorously and shows high resilience in these soils. However, in areas with thin, sandy soils that lack development, tree growth is weaker, and resilience decreases. Baiye No.1, aged 15 years, is primarily planted in yellow-sandy soil areas, often in moist, nutrient-rich valleys. It grows well and is highly resilient overall; however, in areas with high groundwater, Baiye No.1 faces challenges, occasionally with algae growth on its surface, indicating poor adaptability in overly humid conditions, which requires drainage management for optimal growth. Zhonghuang No.2, aged 11 years, grows primarily in loose, well-aerated white sandy soil, where it exhibits strong growth and resilience, effectively adapting to seasonal climate variations. The Jiukeng variety, cultivated from seeds sown in the 1960s, grows in yellow-sandy soil. These older trees have extensive, deep root systems that utilize the clay-rich subsoil for water and nutrient retention, giving them high resilience to extreme weather. These well-adapted older tea trees maintain steady growth in nutrient-rich soil conditions, effectively utilizing deep soil resources to withstand drought, cold, and other adverse climates. 2.3 Tea garden ecological environment and climatic conditions The Dongping High Mountain Tea Garden benefits from an advantageous ecological environment, including a reservoir that provides water resource protection and helps regulate the garden’s microclimate. The garden is surrounded by diverse local vegetation, including Chinaberry (Melia azedarach), bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), and rhododendron (Rhododendron simsii), while inside, shade trees like cedar (Cunninghamia lanceolata), sweet olive (Osmanthus fragrans), and Nanmu (Phoebe zhennan) have been planted, which help maintain ecological balance (Tong et al., 2018). The garden’s microenvironment also hosts nectar sources, such as daisies (Bellium minutum) and berry plants, which support beneficial insects like parasitic wasps, establishing a robust biological chain (Herz et al., 2021). Additionally, the garden's geographical location and ecological setting create a warm, moderately humid climate conducive to tea tree growth. The unique autumn and winter climatic conditions and ecological environment directly affect pest and disease occurrence and soil nutrient retention in the tea garden. Proper management during this period further strengthens the tea trees’ resilience and ecological stability, providing a strong foundation for spring tea production (Lou et al., 2021). 3 Tea Garden Autumn and Winter Management Practices 3.1 Weeding and fertilization techniques Autumn and winter management is a crucial component of annual tea garden care, essential for ensuring healthy tea tree growth and improving the yield and quality of spring tea. In October, as the tea trees enter dormancy, weeding and fertilization are carried out sequentially for the Jiukeng variety, Baiye No.1, Zhonghuang No.2, and Zhongcha 108. Weeds around the base of the tea trees are first removed to prevent competition for nutrients. Then, trenches about 20 cm deep are dug along the edge of the tea canopy, where organic fertilizer is applied and covered with soil to retain fertility. Fertilization is primarily done with rapeseed meal (100 kg per mu) or commercial organic fertilizer (1 ton per mu), supplemented by urea or high-phosphorus compound fertilizer (20-30 kg per mu) to address phosphorus deficiency in acidic soils (Cen et al., 2020). Sandy soils, generally rich in potassium, require only minimal fertilization.
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