Abstract
Environmental characterisitics of a tea plantation area under various environmental conditions from highland to coastal areas were clarified, and the relation between the quality of tea and these characteristics was examined by using LANDSAT/TM, a meteorological observation, and near-infrared spectroscopy data. Daytime ground surface temperatures were found to be less at higher altitudes, and at nighttime the temperatures were high in frostless tea fields and low in flat tea fields. The ground surface temperature range was less at higher altitudes in tea plantation areas, flat tea fields, and coastal areas. In frostless tea fields and mountain slope tea fields, this range was small. The quality of tea was found to be closely related to ground surface temperatures during nocturnal cooling in early spring and better with low ground surface temperatures. Multiple regression analysis indicated tea quality to be determined by the spectral vegetation index, altitude, and ground surface temperatures.
