Early drought protection for tea plants

In Ky Thuong commune (Ky Anh district) - a place with a harsh climate, often affected by the southwest monsoon, many households have proactively invested in drought-proof solutions for tea plants right from the beginning of the season.

Ms. Duong Thi Huong (Tan Tien village, Ky Thuong commune, Ky Anh) said: “My family has 8 sao of tea, which is the main source of income . After each harvest, I always take advantage of the time when the soil is still moist to fertilize, weed, and compost the roots. In particular, I reinstall the water pipe system, regularly watering in the early morning and late afternoon to keep the soil moist, limiting the plants from being shocked by heat on hot sunny days."

Ms. Duong Thi Huong (Tan Tien village, Ky Thuong commune, Ky Anh) covers the roots to keep the tea plants moist.

Not only Ms. Huong, Mr. Duong Thanh Nien's household (Tan Tien village, Ky Thuong commune, Ky Anh) has also invested in a water supply system from Rao Tro stream to his family's tea garden. Mr. Nien said: "From this stored water source, I can actively water continuously for 8-10 hours/day during peak sunny periods. I also dig trenches between the tea rows to retain water when it rains, helping the soil stay moist longer, avoiding cracking and limiting nutrient leaching."

In recent years, realizing that the traditional method of flooding with pumps not only wastes water but also compacts the soil, many households in Ky Thuong have switched to installing automatic nozzle irrigation systems. This method not only helps save water but also improves soil structure, increases ventilation, and creates favorable conditions for plant roots to develop. Up to now, the entire Ky Thuong commune has had more than 15/80 hectares of tea installed with modern irrigation systems, helping people reduce labor pressure during the dry season and increase crop productivity.

People proactively repaired the water pipe system to prepare for long watering periods this summer.

In the "tea capital" of Ky Trung commune (Ky Anh district), recently, this raw material area has also been significantly affected by the harsh weather, so people pay more attention to drought prevention work.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong (Dat Do village, Ky Trung commune, Ky Anh) said: “My family has nearly 1.5 hectares of industrial tea, all of which have been installed with an automatic irrigation system for nearly 2 years. This irrigation method can adjust the appropriate amount of water, the water seeps evenly, thereby contributing to ensuring productivity and output, especially during peak hot weather. In addition, I have also proactively cut down bushes, used straw to cover the roots, and kept the tea moist.”

The 360-degree automatic irrigation nozzle system is increasingly being invested in and put into use by many tea growers.

According to statistics, Ky Anh district has more than 400 hectares of raw tea, concentrated in the communes of Ky Trung, Ky Thuong, Ky Son, and Ky Tay. In order to effectively implement the tea development strategy, in recent times, tea growers have made efforts to expand the area and prevent drought for the plants. However, many people hope to continue to receive support and companionship policies, especially in implementing sustainable solutions to prevent drought for tea plants in the coming time.

Ha Tinh has more than 1,200 hectares of tea concentrated in Ky Anh, Huong Son, Huong Khe districts...

Although it is just the beginning of summer, the "fire pan" of Huong Khe has already experienced several heat waves, so people are taking care of tea plants more regularly.

Ms. Phan Thi Hanh (Tien Phong village, Huong Tra commune, Huong Khe) shared: “Tea is a plant that is easily affected by high temperatures. If not properly cared for, it will dry out and the leaves will burn. My family has drilled more wells and regularly checked the soil moisture to proactively water. The most important thing is not to harvest young tea, to preserve the plant's strength during the drought period.”

Huong Son tea growers limit harvesting during intense heat waves to "nurture" the plants. (Photo: Hoai Nhon)

Currently, the export tea cultivation chain of Huong Khe district with 20/4 Tea Enterprise (Ha Tinh Tea Joint Stock Company) continues to be maintained with an area of ​​185 hectares, an output of 2,031 tons, and an estimated production value of 14.2 billion VND/year. Thanks to this linkage model, people are regularly instructed and trained in techniques for caring for, harvesting and preserving tea according to standard procedures.

Mr. Tran Cong Quang - Director of 20/4 Tea Enterprise said: “To ensure stable growth of tea trees, we have developed a drought prevention scenario since the beginning of the year. Accordingly, based on the specific situation, the enterprise will support part of the cost if farmers drill wells, reduce 50% of electricity costs for irrigation pumps during peak periods and coordinate with the government to store water in large dams. At the same time, encourage people to install more modern irrigation systems to save water and improve production efficiency”.

Ha Tinh currently has more than 1,200 hectares of tea, with an output of nearly 14,000 tons/year, bringing stable income to the people.

Recommendations from the provincial Department of Crop Production and Livestock are that during the dry season, people need to pay special attention to watering and covering the roots to keep the plants moist, especially in tea fields without shade trees. After the hot spell, it is necessary to cut and remove all young buds and burnt leaves on the canopy surface, apply balanced fertilization, and prioritize the use of organic fertilizers and microbial fertilizers to increase the plants' resistance.

In addition, investing in an economical irrigation system, proactively providing long-term water sources, and taking care according to integrated pest management (IPHM) is a key solution to ensure sustainable productivity and quality of tea plants.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/chong-han-som-cho-cay-che-post288209.html