Citation:
Paul J. Burgess and M.K.V. Carr, Responses of Young Tea (Camellia Sinensis)
Clones to Drought and Temperature I: Yield and Yield Distribution, Experimental
Agriculture Vol.32 Part 3, July 1996, p. 357-372.
Abstract:
The yield responses to drought and temperature of six contrasting tea clones
were studied in a line-source irrigation experiment in Southern Tanzania. The
selected clones, all commercially and/or scientifically important in eastern
Africa, embrace a range of morphological and physiological types. The bushes
were planted in August 1988 and differential drought treatments were imposed for
16 and 13 weeks towards the end of the dry seasons in 1990 and 1991
respectively. The resulting soil water deficits were successfully simulated
using a water balance model. Under well-watered conditions Clone S15/10 (from
Kenya) gave the highest yield of dry tea reaching 5600 kg ha-1 in the fourth
year after planting (1991/92) compared to 3640-4420 kg ha-1 for the other five
clones. During the cool season Clone SFS150 (from Malawi) yielded more than
Clones 1, 207, 6/8 and K35. Although annual yields decreased curvi-linearly as
the maximum soil water deficit increased, single values for the drought
sensitivity of each clone could be derived by using stress time as an index of
drought. On this basis Clones S15/10 and 207 were identified as being the most
sensitive to drought; Clones SFS150 and 1 were drought resistant. The reasons
for these differences in yield responses and the importance of determining
drought sensitivity over an appropriate time period are discussed.