Effect of climatic factors & plucking interval on growh & yield of tea

In Uttaranchal, tea is grown as a rainfed crop. Being dependant almost wholly on rain, its quantity and distribution are very important for growth and production of tea. In tea plantations of Kausani region of Uttaranchal, year-to-year variations in total rainfall and its distribution are significant. Total annual rainfall of 1061mm, 1354mm and 1401mm was received in 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively (Fig. 18). During January to March 238mm, 271mm and 47mm of rainfall was received in the same order. During 2004, 82% of rainfall occurred in the months of June-August. Therefore, the rainfall distribution was not even. There was no rainfall in the month of March and total rainfall from April to May was 148mm only. Although, rainfall was highest in 2004, however, there was no rainfall in the month of March. Effect of plucking intervals on nutrient uptake In general, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake was highest in 9 days plucking interval followed by 7 and 5 days plucking intervals (Table 4.1-4.15) in both April and June. Also, uptake of all the nutrients increased in June in comparison to April.