Development of preparation method of terrace type tea garden and management technology by using small-sized riding-type tea plucking machine in intermediate hillside slope place

For the purpose of labor saving of plucking and skiffing work of tea in a tea garden of an intermediate hillside slope place, we carried out investigations on basis preparation conditions, elucidation of using method of small-sized riding-type tea plucking machine, and management evaluations of conditions of establishment by individuals and introduction of riding-type machines. As the results, the following became clear. 1) In the prefecture, the complex formation was general, wherein there are numerous tea gardens of gentle slope of 6deg or less of tilting, and wherein gentle-steep slope tea gardens of around 15deg of tilting, or steep slope terrace tea gardens of 18deg or more of tilting were scattered in the peripheral parts. Tea field establishments by individuals were performed at places of topography where the slope was 15deg or less, and they were arranged to 1-5deg. Terraces after preparations had shapes following the original topography, and the terrace surface rate was 89.6% in the average to the original topography. Further, as pillow places for turning a machine were taken, and the planting rate of terrace surface became 88.7% in the average. Such problems were seen, the slope gradient after preparation was a little steep and there were few preparation of drainage canal, and there was an example that a work path, etc. between terraces had a steep slope. 2) As for the small-sized riding-type tea plucking machine, a large scale labor saving was possible in plucking and skiffing work. However, the load to an operator was larger than that of traditional plucking machine for two persons, power tea pinker in plucking work. As for plucking travel speed 0.3 m/s was appropriate for the primary tea, and 0.4 m/s for the secondary/tertiary tea. As for the housing capacity of green leaves, 18 kg was suitable for one bag, because it took more time in exchanging bags as the capacity of one bag increased. From this, mounting amount of green leaves became 110kg because 6 bags of 18 kg/bag was possible for mounting on a small-sized riding-type tea plucking machine, and this became the calculation base of the efficient ridge length. 3) As for the soil tread pressure by the small-sized riding-type tea plucking machine at a garden where a general management was performed such as 2 t/10 a of compost application and tilling after fertilizer application and a deep tilling by every 2 years at an adult tree garden, an accumulation of soil tread pressure or a hardness difference between at a space between hedges and at a rain dropping line was not found either. Further, soil tread pressure was moderated by adding 1t/10 a of straw or Japanese pampas grass between hedges. Feed of materials at a site of 30-50 cm deep of soil in April was effective for the hardening prevention.