Shade in north-east Indian tea plantations. II. Foliar illumination and canopy characteristics.
Abstract
The penetration of light into 5 distinct foliage patterns of tea bushes was studied. The 2 foliage types (semi-erect and horizontal) representing most of the tea bushes grown commercially in north-east India were examined in detail and their responses to high fertilizer doses (n at 1200 kg, P2O5 at 240 kg and K2O at 480 kg/ha) were determined. Bushes with semi-erect leaves maintained a higher leaf-area index under normal estate conditions and responded to higher fertilization than bushes with horizontal leaves. The implications of these findings to current commercial practice are discussed.