Climate requirement for tea

Climate
  • Tea is a subtropical species.
  • In south India tea is grown in hilly areas and in North India = Plains
  • Tea prefers a climate which is
      1) Moist,
      2) Warm and
      3) Winter is not too cold
    Temperature

  • Optimum = Mean maximum of 29.5 ºC and mean minimum of 13 ºC South India vs North India Tea is cultivated on hilly tract around 1000 m and above, the temperature is relatively low here where as in North India the temperature is high during summer on the plains, which is unfavourable for high tea productivity and a good stand of shade trees is therefore grown for optimizing productivity.
    Altitude:

  • It ranges from sea level upto 2460 m above MSL. In North India tea plantations are located in plains while in South India tea is cultivated in hilly terrain.
  • China tea is grown on higher altitudes.
  • Cardamom hills of South India = 2460 m above MSL
    Rainfall:

  • Well distributed rainfall ranging between 125 and 750 cm. In North Eastern India tea receives copious rainfall (150 to 500 cm). However, the distribution is most uneven. The annual rainfall in South Indian tea growing areas varies between 90 and 800 cm.
    Day length:

  • Critical day length for vegetative growth =10.5 hours. It varies from 9.4 h to 15 h in North India Where the tea growing area lies between 24 º N and 28 ºN latitude day length varies from 10 to 13 hours during different season
    Winter 

  • November to March = Shorter day length = Vegetative growth almost ceases However, this is compensated during July to September (Summer) = Long and conducive to good vegetative growth.
    In South India

  • Day length is = > 11 hours
  •  Here tea growing areas lies below 12.5 ºN latitude and characterized by minimal diurnal variation = Minimum day length not falling below 11 hours= Leads to uniform vegetative growth in tea throughout the year, except during the monsoon when productivity falls.
    Relative Humidity

  • North India = High (> 60 %) throughout the year.
  •  South India = Falls as low as 15 % in February to March.
  • This necessitates protecting the nursery plants against desiccation with polythene cloches.
    Frost:

  • Causes adverse effect on tea bush, especially in the ravines.

Last modified: Saturday, 22 October 2011, 4:08 AM