春は茶園にとって最も重要な季節であり、この時期の生育・管理は一年間の茶葉の品質と収量に直結します。2024年春の茶園管理のポイントをまとめました。

1. 剪定と樹形整備

春は茶樹の剪定に最適な時期です。枯れ枝や病害枝を取り除き、新芽の成長を促し、理想的な樹形を維持します。清潔で切れ味の良い道具を使い、植物を傷つけないように注意しましょう。

2. 施肥

新芽のためにバランスの取れた肥料を与えます。堆肥や完熟堆肥などの有機肥料がおすすめです。過剰施肥は品質低下や過度な成長につながるため注意してください。

3. 病害虫防除

茶園を定期的に観察し、害虫や病気の早期発見・早期対策を徹底しましょう。生物的・文化的・化学的手法を組み合わせた総合的防除（IPM）を活用し、被害を最小限に抑えます。

4. 雑草管理

雑草は茶樹と養分や水分を奪い合います。手作業で除草するか、マルチングで雑草の発生を抑えましょう。除草剤の多用は茶樹や環境への悪影響があるため控えめに。

5. 灌水

乾燥期には十分な水分を確保します。点滴灌水や株元への水やりが効果的で、水の無駄や病害リスクを減らせます。

6. 摘採

新芽が適期になったら速やかに丁寧に摘み取りましょう。適切な摘採は高品質な茶葉を確保し、次の成長も促します。 Applying Sprouting Fertilizer Root Application of Sprouting Fertilizer Spring sprouting fertilizer should be applied after the spring cold spell or before the start of spring tea harvesting to ensure adequate nutrient supply for the tea trees. Primarily use quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer, applying 20-30 kg per mu of high-nitrogen compound fertilizer by trenching to a depth of about 10 cm and covering the soil immediately after application.

Foliar Fertilizer Application

In spring, foliar fertilizer can be sprayed twice: once before the new shoots of spring tea sprout and once two weeks later. Spraying should be done in the morning before 10 AM, after 4 PM in the afternoon, or on cloudy days. Common foliar fertilizers include water-soluble urea, amino acid water-soluble fertilizer, humic acid foliar fertilizer, and biogas slurry fertilizer. Water-soluble urea foliar fertilizer can be prepared with a 5% urea solution, amino acid foliar fertilizer should contain 50 mg of active ingredient per mu, humic acid foliar fertilizer can be used with a 2% solution at a rate of 15 kg per mu, and biogas slurry fertilizer should have an effective nitrogen content of about 2%.

Ensuring Proper Harvesting Operations

Timely Harvesting

Tea garden harvesting should begin early. When 5%-10% of the spring shoots on the canopy reach the harvesting standard, harvesting should start. The harvesting cycle should be well managed, and shoots meeting the standard should be harvested promptly. Ensure that the tender shoots on the harvesting surface are harvested according to the standard; otherwise, the spring shoots will age, affecting the quality of the current season’s tea and inhibiting the sprouting growth of the next round, thereby impacting tea yield.

Batch Harvesting

During the peak harvesting period, organize enough pickers to harvest every 3-4 days. Initially, use manual picking for premium tea, and later, use mechanical tea picking to improve harvesting efficiency.

Transport and Freshness Preservation

Fresh leaves should be transported to the tea processing plant within 4 hours and quickly spread in a clean, cool indoor environment after being inspected by dedicated personnel. Use breathable, clean bamboo baskets for transporting fresh leaves, with a capacity of 10-20 kg. Avoid compression during transportation to reduce damage. If fresh leaves cannot be promptly delivered to the processing plant, they should be spread out in a clean, ventilated place for preservation, avoiding direct sunlight and rain, and then quickly sent to the processing plant.