Soil suitable for camellia sinensis

The plant will survive dry spells providing that the soil does not dry to wilting point down to the depth reached by the tap root, but yields suffer as it does not give flush growth unless the soil is moist.

Tea requires well drained soil with high amount of organic matter and pH 4.5 to 5.5. The performance of tea is excellent at elevations ranging from 1000-2500 m. Optimum temperature of 20-27 °C is suitable.

If grown under a canopy providing 40% to 50% shading, tea has superior growth and yields compared to that grown in full sunlight.

Tea is grown in a wide range of soil types found in tropical, subtropical and temperate climatic conditions. The range of soil types on which tea is grown in the major tea producing countries in the world is remarkably wide including the latosols, red-yellow podzolic and reddish-brown lateritic, alluvial, andosols, volanic soils.

In China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, south India, Turley and Georgia tea is mostly grown on sedimentary soils derived from gneiss or granite.

In north-east India, except in Darjeeling, tea is grown on flat alluvial lands which occupy the vast are of the Brahmaputra Valley in Assam.
Soil suitable for camellia sinensis

Suitable soil for tea plants

The first desiderata in selecting the site for tea-plantation are soil and climate the best mode of cultivation, system of manufacture and cost of production. A rich loamy soil, sand and vegetable matter; is of a yellow colour is the best suited for tea; but eceteria paribus, the various soils suitable for cereals are also suited for tea. The great object is to insure deep soil free from rocks and stones.

A probably moist climate,such as may be found at elevations of from 2500 to 5000 get above the level of the sea, are most suitable and in localities free from all influence of hot winds in summer.The decrease in soil moisture causes the desiccation damage on the young tea leaves.

Rainfall in the the area of the world varies from less than 1000 mm to 6000 mm in a year. the minimum quantity of rain required to sustain healthy growth depends on the soil and other environmental conditions and cultural factors which are connected with loss of water from the soil and the tea plant.

The plants are very sensitive to the soil acidity. They cannot survive in alkaline soil. The optimum pH of soil for growing tea ranges between 4.5 and 6.5. One of the reasons that tea does well in regions with a high rainfall is that the ling term leaching of the soil contributes to soil acidity.
Suitable soil for tea plants

Mulching process

Mulching is a process of covering the soil with soft and sappy plant leaves to conserve the soil moisture. Other organic material that has not fully broken such wood chips, straw also can be used. Straw and hay are excellent protection against the drying winter winds.

Shredded newspaper is quite effective. Most newspaper ink no longer contains lead; even color sections are printed with clay-based inks.

It is an important part of tea plantation. Young tea areas are mulched with green material. Thicker the mulch better will be the result.

Sometime it is top dressed with a sprinkle of urea so that mulch may rot easily.

This improves the soil fertility and reduces the possibility or irrigation also. Mulch holds water in the soil, preventing evaporation and keeping the plants well watered.

It suppressed weed, moderates soil temperature, improves soil structure, encourages earthworm activity, stimulates beneficial microbial activity, act as a substrate for fungi growth, and beautify and improves environment.

Further, it protects soil from direct sun and wind effect.
Mulching process