1972 Volume 1972 Issue 37 Pages 24-31
The authors had studied the influences of sod and straw mulchings on tea plant growth and tea soil properties in the young and matured tea field. The experimental results obtained from 1960 to 1962 were already reported in this journal as Part 1. Therefore this report deals with the results obtained from 1963 to 1968.
1. Influences on the growth of tea plants The sod and straw mulchings were superior to the non-treatment in the height of plant and the growth of autumn flush till 1962. For four years after 1963, however, both mulchings were confirmed to be excellent in the flush growth and yield in spring and summer too, and the sod mulching tended to be slightly superior to the straw mulching. But in 1968, the eighth year after planting, the straw mulching reversely tended to surpass the sod mulching in the tree spread, width of plucking surface and yield.
2. Influences on the tea quality
Green tea made from the leaves plucked in the sod mulching field had the most excellent quality, especially taste, aroma and color of liquor, during three years.
3. Influences on the physical properties of tea soil
Concerning the influences on the three phases of tea soil, it was confirmed that the air phase ratio was raised in sod mulching and the liquid phase ratio was raised in straw mulching, respectively. The ratio of crumb in the surface layer of sod and straw mulching was larger than non-treatment.
4. Influences on the chemical properties of tea soil
Influences of these mulchings were not recognized on pH and cation-exchange capacity. Exchangeable Ca, Mg and K contents were slightly increased in the surface soil layer by these mulchings. The straw mulching increased exchangeable K content more than the other treatments, being considered to be caused by K contained in rice straw. The humus content in the surface soil layer was increased by about one percent by means of these mulchings.
