Pruning in Tea

 Pruning in Tea

Its promotes vegetative growth at the cost of reproductive phase(flowers & seed forming).

• Aim of Pruning - 

1. Cut out the unproductive woods.
2. To remove the old leaves which have less Photosynthesis activities.
3. Removal of knots.
4. Height Reduction.
5. Frame making.
6. To get ride of the diseased & dead woods.

•  Pruning Cycle:- In 1 Year we prune 25% (in 4 Yea:rs) or 33% (in 3 Years) area in LP of a Tea Estate & the area is calculated on the basis of yield.

• Example for Area :-

• Pruning - For 4 Years  - For 3 Years 

1.     LP.           -       25%         -         33% 
2.     DS/MS     -       25%         -         33%
3.     UP.           -       50%         -          33%

• Type of Pruning Cycle   -   Years

1.     LP  -  UP  -  DS                -    3 Years
2.     LP  -  UP  -  MS               -    3 Years
3.     LP  -  UP  -  DS - UP       -     4 Years
4.     LP  -  UP  -  MS - UP      -     4 Years

• Pruning Knife :- We can use Pruning knife for Pruning purpose as per data..

      Pruning     -  In weight - Size in Length

1. MP & LP  -     500 gr.       -      6"
2. DS & MS  -     400 gr.       -      8"
3. KCO.         -        -               -      4"

• Type of Pruning:-

• Heavy/Rejuvenation/Deep /Collor Pruning (RP) - Reason for this Pruning is to provide new strength in 60 -70 years old plants with remove the knots, dead,diseased woods and improve the yield status of the section.

1. CA at 8" to 16" lower than Collar(18") from ground level.
2. In this type of Pruning keeping Unprune few branches on each plant (Lung Pruning) for survival.
3. Apply bush sanitation ( Soda ash-1.5 kgs + Quick lime 3 kgs in 200 litres water) to clean mosses and softening of bark for quick flushing.
4. Using  Indopest/Copper hydroxide/Fresh cow dung for pasting on cut mark of tea bushes.
5. Digging of all sectional/ Feeder drain (3' deep), collector drain (3.5'-4'), Sub-Main drain (4'-5') & Main drains as per topography of Tea Estate.
6. Deep hoeing of all RP areas by using spade.
7. Ground levelling should be done after hoeing.
8. Tipping allowance 12" or 5-6 leaf,  Always use "T" type tipping measure from ground level for uniformity of plucking table & avoid side dip plucking.

• Medium Pruning (MP)/ Height Reduction pruning (HRP - Main reason for this Pruning is reduced the height & knot removal in old bushes.

1. Prune at 18" to 20" from ground level.
2. Care as Heavy Pruning, Lung Pruning & bush sanitation.
3. Apply COC within 24 hours of Pruning.
4. Desnagging -Removal of knots & dead woods with the help of Secateur & Pruning shears.
5. Digging of all drains as per RP.
6. Deep hoeing of all MP areas by using spade.
7. Ground levelling should be done after hoeing.
8. Tipping allowance 12", use "T" measure as per RP.

• Light Pruning (LP) - As per Pruning cycle mainly for frame making & cut-out unproductive woods.

1. Prune at 2" above last LP or 4" above MP or 22" from ground level. 
2. Apply COC as per MP.
3. Knife clean out(KCO) & Defoliation- Remove the dead, diseased,weak & criss- cross branches and leaves from bush.
4. Desnagging as per MP.
5. Digging of all drains as per RP.
6. Forking all LP areas by using Fork.
7. Ground levelling should be done after forking.
8. Tipping allowance 8" or 4 to 5 leaves over the LP mark. Use "T" measure as per RP & MP.

• Deep Skiff (DS) -

1. Prune at 26" to 28" ( Half of new growth over the LP) from G.L.
2. Hand clean out(HCO)- Remove the thin twiggy growth,dead woods & cut branches from the bush by hand. 
3. Tipping allowance 4" or 2 to 3 leaves over the DS. Colour the tipping stick in Red/Yellow to avoid mistake by pluckers during tipping.

• Medium Skiff (MS) -

1. Prune at 28" from G.L.
2. Cut out the crow's feet.
3. Tipping allowance 2" or 1 leaf over the MS.

• Light skiff (LS) -

1. Cut the unproductive & access growth leaves  from top of bushes for uniform flushing.
2. Cover the top of bush with 1 leaf after flushing.
3. Pahi cutting for spraying purpose.

• Level off Skiff (LOS) - 

1. Levelling the plucking table with sharp knife.
2. Pahi cutting for spraying purpose.

• Levelling Plucking Table - In January, level all proposed Unprune sections by hand plucking with the  help of 7 foot straight bamboo stick  and avoid dip plucking below the stick.

• Pruning in Infills (during RP & MP) -

1. Use TV-22, TV-26 & Seed's plant for infilling in RP & MP .
2. In 1st year CO at 12" & CA at 24" 
3. In 2nd Year RCO at 12"
4. Tipping as per RP & MP

• Chemical Pruning Agents - It induced branching.

• Doses - 50 to 80 ml / 200 Litres water

1. Ethephon (2- chloroethyl phosphonic acid)
2. Goal (Oxyfluorfen)
3. CCC (Cyclocel)
4. Ethrel
5. Morphactin (Chlorflureml methylester)

• Crop Loss in Pruning :-

     Pruning    - Loss in percentage

1. MP        -         50 - 60%
2. LP         -         25 - 30%
3. DS         -         15 - 20%
4. MS        -         10 - 15%
5. LS          -           5  -  0%
6. LOS       -          None

• Pruning Litters :-

• The leaves, twigs and branches cut out during pruning, it add about 5000 kgs organic matter in soil per hectare, which contains...

1. Nitrogen (N) - 125 kgs/ha.
2. Phosphorus (P) - 25 kgs/ha.
3. Potash (K) - 75 kgs/ha.