Journal of Tea Science Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.5, 262-272 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/jtsr 268 weather on tea quality. During the 2023 spring tea season, the drought from late 2022 resulted in poorer initial growth, leading to reduced quality and insufficient thickness, though some varieties, like the Jiukeng, retained their sweet floral aroma. In 2024, higher temperatures during harvest resulted in a stronger, occasionally bitter taste in early tea leaves. Despite the warmer climate in 2024, which increased bitter components like polyphenols and caffeine, overall quality remained high due to robust autumn and winter management, including sufficient fertilization and appropriate pruning. Data indicate that while yield varied across different climate conditions, optimized autumn and winter management practices improved nutrient supply, effectively enhancing tea color and aroma, ensuring overall quality stability (Figure 4; Figure 5). Pruning, fertilization, and other autumn-winter measures play a key role in supporting stable yield and flavor quality for the upcoming spring tea season. 4.3 The indirect impact of the tea garden’s ecological environment on tea tree growth Ecological construction at the Dongping High Mountain Tea Garden provides significant environmental support for tea tree growth by enhancing overall resilience through biodiversity. Over a decade of ecological improvements, including the planting of shade trees and nectar plants, has fostered a stable ecosystem and strengthened the garden’s ability to regulate microclimate. In the 2022 spring season, many surrounding tea gardens were affected by a cold snap, but the Dongping Garden avoided frost damage due to its topography and vegetation, with Baiye No.1 displaying strong resilience against the cold. This ecological advantage created a favorable microclimate, reducing the impact of temperature fluctuations on yield, and thus preserving tea quality and yield. The tea garden’s ecological environment also enhances tea flavor and improves soil nutrient cycling. The various plants in the garden provide abundant nectar sources, attracting beneficial insects and reducing pest risks, which facilitates organic management practices. The ecosystem effectively supports soil fertility and moisture regulation, contributing to higher tea quality. The combination of autumn and winter management with a natural ecosystem enables the garden to maintain high-quality output even in a low-intervention environment. Sound ecological conditions and scientific management lay a strong foundation for sustainable development and consistent quality improvement in spring tea at the Dongping High Mountain Tea Garden. 5 Synergistic Effects of Climate Conditions and Tea Garden Management 5.1 Effects of autumn and winter climate changes on tea tree growth Climate changes during the autumn and winter seasons directly affect tea tree dormancy and nutrient storage processes, which are crucial for determining the yield and quality of the following spring’s tea. Temperature fluctuations influence tea tree metabolism: higher temperatures extend the growth period, increasing nutrient consumption and potentially compromising spring bud quality (Yan et al., 2021). Conversely, lower temperatures induce earlier dormancy, reducing unnecessary nutrient expenditure and providing ample nutrition for spring bud development. For example, in 2022, warmer autumn temperatures delayed dormancy, while in 2023, drought affected nutrient accumulation, resulting in slower spring tea growth. These cases illustrate how autumn and winter climate variability directly impacts tea tree growth and the subsequent spring tea harvest. Autumn and winter precipitation levels are also critical for soil moisture and root health. Adequate rainfall keeps soil moist, facilitating nutrient transport to roots and allowing energy reserves to accumulate (Yu et al., 2020). However, excessive precipitation may lead to oversaturation, causing root oxygen deficiency and negatively affecting growth. In 2022, ample rainfall maintained moderate soil moisture, laying a solid foundation for the 2023 spring tea crop. Conversely, drought conditions in the 2023 autumn and winter reduced soil moisture, leading to a decrease in spring 2024 yield. Therefore, autumn and winter climate conditions have a direct impact on the yield and quality of spring tea.
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