Identification of Optimum Environmental Condition for Growth of Tea in the Lower Gangetic Plain of India

摘要

Tea is usually grown in the hills and terrai region of West Bengal, India. To evaluate the possibility of growing tea in the lower Gangetic plain of West Bengal, an experiment was conducted during 2001-2002 in the Central Research Farm of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Gayespur, Nadia (lat-22~0 58, long-88~030). The main objectives of the study were to identify the favourable environmental factors as well as the suitable shade tree for this region. For evaluating environmental condition some specific micro-meteorological parameters viz., net radiation (Rn), photosynthetic active radiation (PAR), Atmospheric temperature (AT), relative humidity (RH) and soil temperature (ST) were recorded in the alley of seven shade tree species from an established tea garden along with tea yield data. So far the data were recorded both AT and ST was lowered by 2 to 3 °C compared to a non-shaded open condition, where as RH values were 3 to 8 per cent higher within the shade over the open condition. The result showed that better growth and yield of tea would be possible under the microclimatic conditions where Rn would vary from 108 to 178.94 wm~(-2) and Incident PAR would range from 188 to 339 i E m~(-2)s~(-1). The shade provided by Acacia auriculiformis seemed to be beneficial for yield.