In Kenya, tea is grown in highlands east and west of the Rift Valley at altitudes ranging from 1300 m to 2700 m above mean sea level. These areas vary widely in seasonal and locational environmental factors leading to differences in responses in growth, productivity and quality of tea genotypes. Despite these differences, tea husbandry practices are uniform across tea growing regions in the country. Understanding modes of variations in tea growth parameters and yields to varying environments is crucial for optimization of husbandry practices for tea productivity improvements. Responses in clonal tea growth and yield parameters to season and locations of production effects and their contribution to yields were evaluated, using 20 cultivars in a genotype × environment trial conducted in three locations (Kipkebe, Timbilil and Kangaita). There were yield variations (pd”0.05) between clones, locations and seasons. Tea yield components responses to weather parameters varied with location and season. Shoot growth rates in Kangaita and shoot density in Timbilil linearly correlated (pd”0.05) with yields but varied with season. Yield components and weather parameters contribution to the yield also varied with location and seasons causing significant (pd”0.05) interactions effects. Drought reduced yields while rainfall distribution influenced seasonal yield distribution. Seasonal yield variations were due to shoot growth rate, and shoot dry weight changes but not shoot density. The variations were due to seasonal environmental factors that limited yields rather than factors that increased yields.
The tea crop provides income and employment to rural populations in many countries. In Kenya, tea, which is the leading export commodity crop, is grown in highlands east and west of the Rift Valley at altitudes ranging from 1300 m to 2700 m above mean sea level. Variable responses of tea genotypes to different environments have been demonstrated. This affects the growth, productivity, and quality of tea. However, most tea husbandry practices are uniform across tea growing regions leading to variations in yields and quality in the different environments. Understanding causes of variations in tea growth parameters and yields to varying environments is vital to optimizing husbandry practices for maximization of productivity. The responses in growth and yield parameters of clonal tea to locations of production and their contribution to yields were compared. A genotype × environment trial was conducted in three sites (Kangaita, Timbilil and Kipkebe). At each site, a trial comprising 20 cultivars was laid in a randomized complete design replicated 3 times. Yields, yield components and climatic data were collected then subjected to analysis of variance and regression analysis. There were significant (p ≤ 0.05) yield variations between clones and locations. Yields ranged from 5162 kg mt/ha on clone TRFK 303/577 at Kipkebe to 935 kg mt/ha/year on clone TRFK 7/3 in Kangaita, surpassing the maximum variation possible postulated in earlier studies. The responses of the tea yield components to weather parameters varied with genotypes and environments. Shoot growth rates in Timbilil (r = 0.476)) and shoot density (Kangaita (r = 0.652) significantly (p ≤ 0.05)) correlated with yields. Yield components and weather parameters contribution to the total yield also varied with locations. The variations demonstrated that not all yield components can be used universally as yield indicators for clonal selection in different locations. For optimal production, selected tea clones should therefore be tested before adoption for commercial planting in other locations. K. W. Nyabundi et al. 856
Kenya's tea research advisory committee (RAC) expressed its desire to tackle poverty and minimum landholding issues to improve the economics of tea farming in Kenya. This paper presents the results of a survey undertaken to address these two factors. The economics of tea farming and the minimum land requirement for economic farming in various factory catchment areas are presented, together with cost-benefit analyses of tea enterprises, their contribution to welfare and the proportions of the landholdings of farmers of varying poverty status. Recommendations for interventions to improve farmers' welfare were examined via the dissemination of the survey findings, which received a positive response from all the stakeholders.
Tea husbandry practices in Kenya are uniform despite variations in responses to agronomic inputs with locations. Nitrogen availability is the most limiting tea/crop growth factor. However, tea yields vary with region of production even with the same cultivar, suggesting responses to nitrogen fertiliser and nitrogen utilisation may vary with locations. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of clone TRFK 6/8 was investigated across three different locations/environments in western Kenya. Yields responded significantly (pd”0.05) to nitrogen fertiliser rates, but the responses varied with location of production. The responses to nitrogen rates were significantly lower (pd”0.05) in Timbilil than in Arroket and Changoi. This suggests that optimal nitrogenous fertiliser application rates should vary with locations. Nitrogen application rates between 75- 300Kg N did not cause significant variation in harvestable shoots nitrogen contents. However, there were large differences in the amounts of nitrogen removed with crop. The NUE of tea decreased as nitrogen fertiliser rates increased and was low in areas where yield responses were low. Such areas need low nitrogen fertiliser application rates to justify return on investment. Quantity of nitrogen removed with crop followed same pattern. On replacement basis, nitrogen removed with crop did not exceed the recommended rate of application (150 kg N/ha/year) at any location or nitrogen rate. Shoot nitrogen contents suggest that soil applied nitrogen may not be responsible for locational variations in yield realisation. Results demonstrate that fertiliser management practices, especially nitrogen rates need to be location specific.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.