Weather, Physiology and Seasonality of Tea (Camellia sinensis) Yields in Malawi
- 3 October 1979
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Experimental Agriculture
- Vol. 15 (4), 321-330
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s0014479700012953
Abstract
Field measurements with a pressure chamber showed that the water potential of tea shoots was more closely related to the atmospheric saturation deficit than to the amount of water in the soil. Records for shoot growth and weather then revealed that, within a narrow range of mean temperature, the weekly rate of shoot extension was inversely related to mean saturation deficit measured at 1400 h. During periods when saturation deficit did not rise above 20 mbar, the rate of shoot extension varied linearly with mean temperature above a base temperature of 12.5-13.0.degree. C. These correlations suggested that seasonality of shoot growth in tea can be explained largely by the independent effects of temperature and humidity. The effect of mean air temperature on the rate of shoot extension was confirmed in a glasshouse built over an established crop.This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit:
- Some Factors Limiting Yields of Tea (Camellia sinensis)Experimental Agriculture, 1979
- A Simple Temperature-controlled Glasshouse for Field Experimentation in the TropicsExperimental Agriculture, 1978
- Seasonal Changes in Photosynthesis of Tea (Camellia sinensis L.)Journal of Applied Ecology, 1977
- Simulation of Intraseasonal Yield Fluctuations of Tea in MalawiExperimental Agriculture, 1977
- Observations on the Winter Dormancy of tea(Camellia Sinensis L.)in MalawiThe Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 1976
- Seasonal Dormancy in Tea (Camellia sinensis L.)Nature, 1969