Effect of Different Shade Tree Species on the Growth and Yield of China Hybrid Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) at Palampur Tea Research Station, H.P., India

Abstract

The present investigation entitled, "Effect of different shade tree species on the growth and yield of China hybrid tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) grown in Kangra valley at Palampur Tea Research Station, H.P.  India ". Objectives of the experiment were to study influence of shade tree species on growth and yield of tea plants. Experiment consisted of six shade tree species each forming one treatment viz., Albizia-tea (T1), Pinus-tea (T2), Aleurites-tea (T3), Calophyllum-tea (T4), Celtis-tea (T5), Prunus-tea (T6), and tea alone (T7). Crown area of each shade tree formed two sub-treatments i.e. C1 (inner 50 %) and C2 (outer 50 %). Tea growth attributes analysis have shown that number of primary shoots per bush, number secondary laterals per primary shoot, bush surface area and maintenance leaf area had their maximum value with albizia as a shade tree. It was followed by aleurites, calophyllum and celtis. Albizia increased the leaf area of top two leaves of plucked shoots significantly to its maximum. Aleurites followed the second position. Albizia followed by aleurites increased the yield of kilo made tea per hectare (KMTH1) by 55.55 and 41.25 per cent, respectively over tea alone. Whereas, pinus tree species decreased by 24 per cent. From the current investigation it was therefore inferred that Albizia chinensis followed by Aleurites fordii and Calophyllum elantus are the most propitious associate of a tea crop in the studied area. These species can also be used successfully for establishing new tea plantation under similar site and climatic conditions.