On the first day back to work after New Year's, heavy snow blanketed Hangzhou and Huzhou in Zhejiang, Nanjing in Jiangsu, and Jiujiang in Jiangxi, becoming a viral sensation on social media. As the saying goes, “A good snow promises a fruitful year.” However, what effects will the heavy snowfall and the low temperatures it brings have on Tea production?

What disaster prevention techniques and preventive measures can be taken in tea gardens after heavy snowfall? Read on…

What disaster prevention techniques and preventive measures can be taken in tea gardens after heavy snowfall? Read on…

▲ Tea garden in the scenic area of West Lake, Hangzhou

▲ Tea garden in Nanjing, Jiangsu

▲ Tea garden on Wengjia Mountain, West Lake District, Hangzhou

▲ Tea garden on Mount Lu, Jiangxi

What impact does the heavy snowfall have on tea production in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Jiangxi region?

The snowfall mainly occurred in southern Jiangsu, northwestern Zhejiang, and northern Jiangxi, where the tea buds are still dormant and have not yet begun to sprout. So far, there has been no freezing damage to the tea buds. Moreover, the heavy snowfall and the resulting low temperatures can help to some extent in eliminating pests that overwinter in tea gardens, reducing the population of pests overwintering and decreasing the incidence of diseases and pests this year.

However, for mountainous tea gardens, the accumulation of snow and the sub-zero temperatures it brings will cause a certain degree of frost damage to the branches and leaves of tea plants, and during the melting process of the accumulated snow, the melting snow will absorb environmental heat, potentially exacerbating frost damage to the tea plants.

According to the weather forecast released by the Zhejiang Meteorological Observatory, the minimum temperature tomorrow (8th) morning will be around zero degrees Celsius in mountainous areas, 3-5 degrees Celsius in coastal areas, and 1-3 degrees Celsius in other regions. The maximum temperature will be 8-10 degrees Celsius in coastal areas and 6-8 degrees Celsius in other regions. On the 9th, light snow or sleet may occur again in Anji and Changxing and other places. Overall, this snowfall will not severely impact most tea-producing areas. Mountainous tea gardens should closely monitor weather conditions and scientifically prevent the adverse effects of heavy snowfall on tea production.

What disaster prevention techniques and preventive measures can be taken in tea gardens after heavy snowfall?

▲ Tea garden in Xilong Township, Anji County

After heavy snowfall, corresponding preventive measures should be taken in tea gardens to minimize the adverse effects of the snowfall and the low temperatures it brings. For this heavy snowfall, the following main disaster prevention techniques can be adopted according to the situation in each tea-producing area:

1. Timely Drainage

▲ Tea garden in Yixing, Jiangsu

Since the temperature after this heavy snowfall is mostly above zero degrees Celsius, tea gardens should promptly drain water, loosen the soil, and improve soil aeration to facilitate root growth and nutrient absorption in tea plants. For mountainous tea gardens, the snow accumulation helps to some extent in protecting tea plants from low temperatures due to the lower temperatures. However, as temperatures rise, repeated freezing and thawing of the soil can damage the roots of tea plants, affecting the absorption and transport of water, leading to dehydration and green wilt in the aboveground parts of the plants, worsening the degree of frost damage. Therefore, tea gardens prone to waterlogging in mountainous areas should also pay attention to timely drainage when temperatures rise.

▲ Tea garden in Deqing County, Huzhou City

2. Timely Snow Removal

For tea plants with long shoots left to grow, thick snow accumulation can easily break and damage some branches. Therefore, snow should be removed in time. For mountainous tea gardens with thick snow accumulation, the snow helps to some extent in protecting tea plants from wind and frost. However, if the trees freeze during the melting process of the snow layer on the canopy followed by another cold spell, it can cause ice formation. In addition, repeated freezing and thawing can more easily cause frost damage to tea plants. Therefore, if there is still snow accumulation on the canopy after the temperature rises, it must be removed in time to reduce the occurrence of frost damage. For tea gardens with deep snow accumulation on the canopy, especially those with icicles, corresponding measures should only be taken after the snow and ice have melted.

3. Light Pruning of Frost-Damaged Branches and Leaves

Some tea gardens in the mountains may suffer a certain degree of frost damage in this round of heavy snowfall, with some canopy branches and leaves frozen and losing their photosynthetic capacity. After the temperature rises, it is necessary to promptly remove or lightly prune the frost-damaged branches and leaves to prevent further expansion of the frost-injured and dead parts. At the same time, pruning damaged branches and leaves promotes the sprouting of new buds. When lightly pruning, attention should be paid to keeping the degree of pruning light rather than severe. For 1-2-year-old tea plants with severe frost damage, if the mortality rate is not high, shaping pruning can be used to cut off some dead branches and replant missing clusters.

4. Strengthen Nutrient Management

When temperatures rise, especially after pruning frost-damaged tea plants, nutrient management should be strengthened, and quick-release fertilizers should be applied. Since tea plants consume a lot of nutrients after being frozen, timely fertilization helps replenish plant nutrients, restore normal growth, and sprout new buds. In addition to nitrogen fertilizers, a certain amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be applied.