The Central Meteorological Observatory issued an orange heatwave warning at 06:00 on July 14th:

On July 14th, during daylight hours, areas including southern Shaanxi, central and southern Henan, eastern Sichuan, Chongqing, the Jianghan region, the Huai and Yangtze River basins, southern China, and other regions are expected to experience temperatures above 35°C. Parts of central and southern Anhui, central and southern Jiangsu, Shanghai, Hubei, central and northern Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, eastern Sichuan, Chongqing, and northeastern Guizhou may see temperatures ranging from 37-39°C. In some localities of southern Jiangsu, northern and central Zhejiang, southeastern Sichuan, Chongqing, and southern Shaanxi, temperatures could reach over 40°C.

This heatwave affects major Tea-producing regions, and effective disaster mitigation in tea plantations is urgently needed. As a temperature-sensitive plant, the Tea Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences has long pointed out that both high and low temperatures can harm tea plants. Persistent scorching heat, drought, and lack of rain can lead to widespread burning of tea buds and leaves if not protected. This can affect future tea yields and quality. Many regions producing summer tea of the six major types of Chinese Tea do not harvest in summer but instead prune the tea plants for later autumn harvesting. The high temperatures this summer can scorch the tea plants, causing fresh leaves to burn and the plants to wither, making heat prevention and drought resistance essential work in tea-producing areas.

Watering Tea Plants: In tea-producing areas, large-scale tea plantations, which are usually raw material bases for manufacturers, have good hardware facilities and scientific management. During hot and dry weather, they can use hoses or sprinkler equipment in the evening to spray water and cool down the tea plants. Many small tea gardens in mountainous areas, however, have fewer facilities, and tea farmers can use water pumps near water sources on the mountains to irrigate the tea plants. A single irrigation should aim to achieve a soil relative humidity of around 90%.

Shade Cooling: According to the grid layout of the tea garden, shade nets can be erected along the edges of each small grid using bamboo sticks or poles from the mountains. They don't need to be too high—around 2 meters will suffice. Covering the entire tea garden with shade nets can effectively combat high temperatures. It's also simple to install poles around the edges of the tea plants, adaptable to various complex hillside terrains. Straw Mulching Around Tea Plants: Mulching between tea rows can effectively lower ground temperatures and reduce soil moisture evaporation, helping to retain water and improve the heat tolerance of tea plants. For young tea gardens, directly covering the tea garden with straw can significantly enhance resistance to high temperatures and drought. The principle for mulching is to cover the soil completely. Suitable materials include fresh rice straw, green manure, and plants from leguminous crops. The mulch should be about 8 centimeters thick. During prolonged periods of high temperatures, it is recommended not to weed, spray pesticides, or loosen the soil to avoid counterproductive effects.

Edited and compiled from network sources and Dongmiao Tea Expo

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