Recently, in response to the persistent high temperatures and drought conditions across multiple regions of the province, the Provincial Tea Industry Technology System and the Science and Technology Service Team for the “515” Action Plan in the tea industry have been working under high temperatures and visiting grassroots levels to conduct research and guidance. Considering the actual situation of tea production in our province, the following technical measures are proposed to cope with extreme high-temperature weather, for reference by tea-producing areas.

I. Emergency Technical Measures for Tea Garden Management

1. Timely and Reasonable Irrigation

For tea gardens with irrigation facilities, various methods such as spray irrigation, drip irrigation, and surface irrigation can be employed to water the plants, preferably during the morning or evening. Spray irrigation is particularly effective, as it not only alleviates water shortages caused by drought but also reduces near-surface temperatures in the garden, mitigating the impact of high temperatures. When using surface irrigation, care should be taken to avoid excessive water flow that could result in surface runoff, wasting water resources and causing soil compaction in the tea garden.

2. Scientific and Effective Shading

Using shade nets to provide shading for tea gardens can immediately and effectively lower the temperature on the canopy of tea plants, reducing the harm caused by high temperatures and drought. The shade net should be kept at a distance of 40 cm to 50 cm above the tea plant canopy, rather than directly covering it, which could exacerbate heat damage. Young tea gardens have weaker resistance to high temperatures and drought and may benefit from shaded summering.

3. Rational Covering Between Rows

Covering the ground between rows of tea plants can effectively reduce surface temperatures and minimize soil moisture evaporation, mitigating the adverse effects of high temperatures and drought on tea gardens. When high temperatures and drought occur, locally available materials such as straw and weeds can be used to cover the ground between tea plants, with a recommended thickness of 10 cm to 15 cm.

4. Strengthen Disease and Pest Control

Disease and pest outbreaks are more likely during drought periods, so efforts should be made to prevent overlapping occurrences of drought and disease/pest infestations. Key pests to watch for include tea looper, tea hairy caterpillar, green leafhopper, and mites, which can be managed through integrated control measures involving agricultural, physical, and biological methods.

5. Reduce Garden Operations

Activities such as picking, pruning, fertilization, and weeding in the tea garden should be avoided to prevent exacerbating the negative impacts of high temperatures and drought.

II. Emergency Technical Measures for Tea processing

1. Timely Adjustment of Processing

To avoid the impact of high temperatures and drought on tea quality, it is advisable to temporarily suspend the harvesting of fresh leaves. Pay close attention to local weather changes and resume harvesting and processing only when the high-temperature conditions improve and both the tea garden and factory conditions allow.

2. Attention to Production Safety

If fresh leaves have already been harvested, attention should be paid to production safety. Conduct regular inspections and maintenance of machinery, electrical circuits, and gas equipment in the factory to ensure the normal operation of power supply and gas systems. Technical personnel should master relevant protective skills. In high-temperature work areas within the workshop, proper ventilation and cooling should be ensured to prevent heatstroke. At the same time, working hours should be reasonably arranged to avoid the hottest times of the day and take advantage of the cooler mornings and evenings for processing activities.