This invention relates to a process for the successful cultiva-
tion of tea in non—traditional areas.
Conventionally, tea is grown in hilly tracts under high rainfall
(>2000 mm/annual) and humid conditions. Tea is successfully grown
on acid soil not exceeding pH of 5.S. Therefore, tea cultivation
is limited to these traditional areas and vast stretches of
cultivable waste land. Successful cultivation of tea in non-
traditional areas will bring such waste lands under this cash
crop, which will also help in revenue generation and upliftment
of rural economy at large.
In the nan—traditional areas, cultivation of tea needs to be
explored scientifically in Marginal waste and plain lands. This
is becoming gradually important as the scope for extension of tea
cultivation in the traditional tea growing areas is limited.
It is therefore an object of this invention to propose a process
for the successful cultivation of tea in non-traditional areas.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent
from the ensuing description.
Thus according to the present invention, there is provided a
process for the production of tea comprising planting a plurality
of clones of improved variety tea at uniform spacing and density
of seedlings per acre, providing supplemental irrigation to the
tea plants, training the same by removing the central leader stem
and checking the growth of the lateral branches, followed by
plucking two leaves and a bud after 18 months.
In accordance with this invention, a method for the cultivation
of tea in non-traditional areas comprising pulverisation and
shaping of the land and dividing it into equal sized blocks has
been developed.
Drainage channel is dug lengthwise to avoid excess water stagna-
tion near root zone which is harmful to the crop. Each block is
given a done shape with ridge line at the centre and gentle slope
(about IX) sidewise extending upto drainage channel.
Improved varieties of tea (TV22, TV23, TV25, TV26) are planted at
uniform spacing maintaining 5000 seedings per acre. For planting,
the pits are dug and filled with soil using organic manure (FYM)
and N3P and K fertilizer mixture. The combined organic and
inorganic fertilizers are mixed well with the soil.
Fast growing tree species, like Albizia lebbeck (Siris) Leucaena
leucocephala (Subabool) are planted for shade simultaneously with
planting of the tea sapling. A narrow spacing than conventional
is maintained for these trees to provide adequate shade. 6reen
manure crop, dhaincha (Sesbania sp.) is grown in every alternate
row of tea as supplement for initial shade and for increasing
humus content of the soil upon incorporation. Tropical fruit
plants, like guava, sapota, etc. are also grown for additional
income.
For providing supplemental irrigation to tea during dry season
(November-flay), sprinkler irrigation system is used for uniform
application of water. The water pressure in pipe line and

pressure head in each riser is standardised for applying uniform
amount of water to tea. The sprinkled Mater helps to create a
micro-climate during hot summer and can meet the evapo—transpiration
demand of the crop.
The tea plants are trained after 6-8 Months of planting by
removing the central leader stem. Such practice helps in forma-
tion of lateral branches and in attaining a small bush. Further,
the lateral branches are allowed to grow to about 50 cm height
and subsequent growth above that is checked by periodical
pruning. In a period of about 18 months, a small compact bush can
be attained. The harvesting of bush can be started by plucking
two leaves and a bud and this operation can be continued at an
interval of 10—15 days. The plucking May be suspended during
winter months.
The freshly plucked tea leaves are processed and the quality
assessment is made.
The tea bushes of three years age can produce leaves as much as
800 to 1000 kgs. per hectare. The full harvest can be obtained
from 6th year onwards.
The present tea cultivation is done for the first time in a
different agro-climatic condition. The land topography is plain
and the soil is lateritic with pH 5.5. The total rainfall of the
region varies from 1200-1500 mm, 80% of which is received during
June-October. The mean maximum temperature varies from 24.6 to
40.2 ºC and minimum temperature from 12.2 to 26.9 ºC. The average
maximum and minimum relative humidity ranges sunshine from 77.7
to 99.1 and 24.7 to 73.9% respectively. The average sunshine
varies from 5 to 10 hrs. per day. During summer, the temperature

rises even upto 45 ºC but for a short period. It is apparent from
the growth of the tea bushes, that successful cultivation of tea
in marginal waste land is possible particularly in areas where
the productivity of agricultural crop is either poor or the land
is not being utilised for agriculture and is generally kept
fallow.
The indirect advantages which can be derived by this type of
permanent vegetation in wastelands are that a permanent vegeta-
tion cover will arrest soil erosion and further land degradation.
Moreover, any vegetation on the land will be helpful in building
up of soil productivity, fuel wood availability, fruit production
can be promoted and plantation will generate rual employment as
well as income.
WE CLAIM :
1 . A process for the production of tea comprising planting a
plurality of clones of improved variety tea at uniform spacing
and density of seedlings per acre, providing supplemental
irrigation to the tea plants, training the same by removing the
central leader stem and checking the growth of the lateral
branches, followed by plucking two leaves and a bud after 18
months.
2. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the land is
initially pulverised.
3. The process as claimed in claims 1 & 2 wherein after pulveri-
sation, the land is divided into four equal blocks, each measu-
ring 50 mm by 18 mm.
4. The process as claimed in claim 2 wherein after dividing into
blocks, drainage channels are dug lengthwise to avoid excess
water stagnation near the roots of the plants.
5. The process as claimed in claim 2 wherein the blocks are dome-
shaped with a ridge at the centre and a gentle slope extending
sideways to the drainage channel.
6. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the clones of
improved varieties of tea are selected from TV22, TV23, TV25,
TV26.
7. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the seedlings are
planted at a density of 5000 per acre.
8. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein for planting the
seedlings pits are dug and filled with a mixture of organic
manure and inorganic fertilizer.
9. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tea plants are
provided adequate shade.
10. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein supplemental irri-
gation is provided by sprinkler irrigation system.
11. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tea plants are
trained after 6 to 8 months of planting by removing the central
leader stem.
12. The process as claimed in claim 11 wherein after training,
the lateral branches are allowed to grow to about 50 cm height.
13. The process as claimed in claim 12 wherein growth of the
lateral branches after 50 cm is checked by pruning.
14. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein after the tea
plants are cultivated in a lateritic soil with pH 5.5.
15. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherin tea plants are
cultivated in a region with total rainfall varying from 1200-1500
mm, 80% of which is received during June to October.
16. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein mean maximum tempe-

nature varies from 24.6 to 40.2 ºC and minimum temperature from

12.2 to 26.9 ºC.
17. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein average maximum and
minimum relative humidity ranges from 77.7 to 99.1 and 24.7 to
73.9 percent respectively.
18. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein average sunshine
varies from 5 to 10 hours per day.
19. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tea leaves are
processed in a conventional manner and their quality is assessed.
20. A process for the production of tea substantially as herein
described and illustrated.

This invention relates to a process for the production of tea
comprising planting a plurality of clones of improved variety tea
at uniform spacing and density of seedlings per acre, providing
supplemental irrigation to the tea plants, training the same by
removing the central leader stem and checking the growth of the
lateral branches, followed by plucking two leaves and a bud after
18 months.