Study on Physiology and Yield of Tea as Influenced by Nitrogen and Pruning Under Tea-Arecanut Palm Cropping System Panging Nobin Chandra*, Deka M., Bhuyan R.P., Pegu J.1 Department of Tea Husbandry and Technology, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat-785013, Assam, India 1Department of Plant Pathology, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat-785013, Assam, India *email: nobinpang@gmail.com
Online published on 2 January, 2017. Abstract A field experiment was conducted in the Experimental Garden for Plantation Crops, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat during January, 2012-April, 2013 with a view to study on physiology and yield of tea as influenced by different doses of nitrogen and pruning under teaarecanut palm cropping system. The types of pruning viz., light prune and deep skiff were treated as main plot treatments and different doses of nitrogen viz., recommended nitrogen dose for tea monocrop, 15 per cent less of the recommended nitrogen dose, 15 per cent more of the recommended nitrogen dose, 30 per cent more of the recommended nitrogen dose were considered as sub plot treatments in this split plot design of experiment. Chlorophyll-a and chlorophyll-b content of tea leaves increased with the higher level of nitrogen. Lighter form of prune i.e. deep skiff increased the area of the plucking table, leaf area index and plucking point density over light pruned treated plots. When the nitrogen level was increased to 15 per cent more of the recommended nitrogen dose, area of the plucking table significantly increased over the recommended ones. However, this was found to be at par when the nitrogen level was increased to 30 per cent more of the recommended nitrogen dose. Leaf area index, plucking point density increased over the recommended nitrogen dose when the nitrogen level was increased to 30 per cent more of the recommended nitrogen dose. Similarly, with the increase in level of nitrogen, leaf nitrogen content also increased significantly. With increased level of nitrogen, the dormancy index reduced. Nitrate reductase activity, dry weight of shoots also increased with the higher level of nitrogen. With increased level of nitrogen upto 15 per cent more of the recommended nitrogen dose, green leaf production was found to increase but remained at par when the nitrogen level was increased to 30 per cent more of the recommended nitrogen dose. Top Keywords Physiology, pruning, tea-arecanut palm cropping system, yield, nitrogen. Top |