Agro Climate

The physiology of Tea plants is closely related to external environment and climatic factors i.e. soil moisture and fertility, light duration and intensity, humidity, shelter, shade, and carbon dioxide concentration any change in these conditions can significantly impact yield. The relationship between tea yield and climate change implies that long term climate change can adversely affect tea cultivation. Over the year’s climate has changed a lot with unusual patters of continuous dry spells, then extreme rainfall that too distributed over a few days only. Hail storms, winter prolonged dry spell have adequately affected tea cultivations.
Tea cultivation in Uttarakhand under UTDB is spread over nine districts of Uttarakhand with 1500hac. Area and annual production 86371 kg (for 2020) ranging from elevation ranging of 1550m to 2000m. Major climatic factors affecting tea cultivation in Uttarakhand are:

1. Prolonged Dry spell during Winters
2. Frost injury to plants
3. Hail storms
4. Periodic Drought due to uneven distribution of rainfall
5. Excessive rainfall in Monsoon

Prolonged dry spell during winters

Over the years it has been witnessed that winters are becoming more dry and cold , that adversely affects winter regeneration of plants and plants are forced to undergo winter shock, and then it takes time to revive them, which adversely affects growth in first flush, first flush is delayed by 15-30 days, in cases if winter showers are not there. Less winter rains also attract winter forest fires which is most damaging as because greenfoliage is less due to pruning in winters. To manage this provision of drip irrigation and shade net in more prone areas can help to sustain plants and plants will not undergo winter wilting and thus on onset of spring will revive and first flush will be on time and with full bloom.

Frost injury to plants

If there are no rains in winter, and temperature is less than freezing point in nights, frost becomes a major problem for plantations. Frost injury can cause damage to shoots and even to roots, can cause permanent wilting and death of plant. To prevent frost damage morning irrigation and mulching are to be done to prevent plants from frost damage.

Hail storms

Hail storms are more frequent from March to May, and this is the time when best flush i.e. first flush is obtained from tea plants, first flush is highly aromatic, with peculiar taste and is most preferred in Tea Industry and it fetches very high price. Sometime price fetched by first flush (flush obtained in month of March and April when plucking starts aging after winter break) is even higher then price fetched by tea in whole year. So it is very necessary to maintain the first flush, and hail storms damages the new leaves and the first flush is delayed by 2-3 weeks and quality of first flush in terms of flavor and aroma is reduced. To protect teas from hail storms, hail nets could be used in the areas with frequent hail storms, shade trees could be planted covering the whole plantations so that impact effect of hail is reduced to tea foliage. Varieties of Shade trees to be planted: Traditional tress of Uttarakhand like oak, Rhododendron can be planted in tea plantations, when oak can help in water retention rhododendron can add to economy also, as Rhododendron flowers can be used for blending with tea and make rhododendron tea, beside adding flavor, rhododendron has many medicinal uses which can make a good blend with tea.

Periodic drought due to uneven distribution of rainfall

Can be managed by preparing catchment pits for storage of water and sprinkler irrigation could be installed, so that crop loss due to drought is minimized. Most of the gardens of kangra valley i.e. Mansimbal TE and Wah TE are using sprinkler irrigation which helps in managing winter dry spell and first flush is not affected, moreover in summer there will be no waiting for rain to obtain crop.

Excessive rainfall in monsoon

Results in washing of top soil which results in weakening of plants canopy. Shade trees will reduce the impact of rain to tea foliage, Planting of perennial grasses like Guatemala grass, citronella grass on the ridges will bind the top soil, citronella or lemon grass could also be used for blending with tea.

Conclusion:

1. For managing climate change and develop climate resilient tea cultivation following could be adopted at first hand
2. Shade tree plantations using tress traditionally growing in Uttarakhand i.e. Oak, Rhododendron, Pear etc.
3. Introduction of multispecies cropping in Tea with introduction of legumes in winters so that nitrogen % of soil is increased, use of bio fertilizers like sesbaniarostrata, sesbania aculeate before new plantations, planting of citrus trees on borders of gardens will act as natural fence.
4. Using hail nets in the areas and patches where hail storms are more frequent like GorakhalTE main division and parts Champawat Tea plantations.
5. Installation of Sprinkler irrigation system in the most drought prone areas i.e. Parts of Kausani Tea plantations and Chamoli district tea plantations (Kalimati and Dharapani area)