Environmental Factors Affecting the Yield of Tea (Camellia sinensis). II. Effects of Soil Temperature, Day Length, and Dry Air

Abstract

SUMMARY: Temperature is the major environmental variable affecting the yield of tea, but within the framework of a temperature model shoot extension is severely depressed when daily maximum vapour pressure deficits rise above 2.3 kPa. Day length does not affect shoot extension when the nights are cool (10°C), but growth rate is depressed by short days (11 h) when nights are warm (20°C). Soil temperatures between 18–25°C do not affect shoot extension.