Yield affected by different pruning method of tea (Camellia sinensis L.)

Studies of the effect of different pruning levels i.e top (66.5 cm), medium (55.00 cm), heavy (35.00 cm) and a light skiff at (85.0 cm) above ground surface, on the shoot growth, number of plucking points, weight of fresh and dry leaves were conducted at National Tea Research Institute, Shinkiari, Mansehra (NWFP) during the year 1996 to 1998. The data recorded during 1996 revealed that top pruning significantly increased the number of plucking points, fresh and dry wt. Of leaves in grams as 874,511.8 and 170.3 respectively as against 37.18, 29.46 and 8.73 in heavy pruning. All the four pruning levels did not significantly affect the growth rate. Nevertheless, heavy pruning enhanced the shoot growth to 65.8 cm. Similarly no significant difference was observed among light skiff, top and medium pruning except top and medium pruning on the dry weight of leaves. The repeated results during 1997 showed similar trend of the pruning levels on all the four parameters as it gave significantly greater number of plucking points, fresh and dry weight of leaves i.e. 1143,618 and 206 respectively as against 934, 480.8 and 160.3 in heavy pruning. However, no significant difference of pruning levels was observed on the shoot growth. The continual results of pruning obtained during 1996 affected the four parameters differently. Though no significant on shoot growth was observed among all the pruning levels even then medium pruning gave greater shoot growth of 75.8 cm, while only top pruning gave significantly greater number of plucking point of 1407 as against 1270 in heavy pruning. During 1998, the medium pruning gave significantly greater fresh and dry weight of leaves as compared to heavy and top pruning. However results revealed that top pruning was found to be the best among the remaining ones. The results indicated that maximum fresh leaves yield of 7295 kg per acre/annum was obtained during 1998 as compared to 5757.5 kgs and 4092.5 kgs during 1997 and 1996 respectively. It indicated that an interval of three weeks between the two consecutive plucking rounds is more economical as compared to others.