Optimized Pruning and Fertilization of Tea Plants

Objective Effects of pruning and fertilizing tea plants on leaf productivity and quality were studied to optimize the treatment.

Method Time and amount of pruning as well as fertilization applied on ‘Baiye 1’ and ‘Zhuyeqi’ tea bushes were optimized in an orthogonal experiment evaluated according to the resulting yield and functional ingredients content of spring tea in the following year.

Result Early and increased pruning significantly raised the branch number and plant height after the treatment but exerted no significant effect on the branch diameter. Pruning time and amount significantly affected the yield of spring tea on a plant (P<0.05). Pruning at the plant height of 55 cm (B₃) held on May 17th (A₁) with the fertilization of urea at 225 kg·hm⁻², potassium phosphate compound fertilizer at 750 kg·hm⁻², and an organic fertilizer at 3000 kg·hm⁻² (C₃) significantly enhanced the accumulations of tea polyphenols, total catechin, and amino acids in the leaves. The treatment also significantly elevated the spring tea yield of Baiye 1 to 1170.24 kg·hm⁻², which was 36.77% higher than that of control i.e., the plants were pruned to a height of 70 cm on October 15th, with the fertilization of urea at 150 kg·hm⁻², potassium phosphate compound fertilizer at 600 kg·hm⁻², and an organic fertilizer at 2250 kg·hm⁻² (C₂), and of Zhuyeqi to 1261.85 kg·hm⁻², which was 46.28% higher than that of control.

Conclusion Tea bushes pruned and fertilized under the A₁B₃C₃ combination rendered a significantly improved production of fresh leaves harvested in the spring that were rich in functional biochemicals.