5 60 Kumarasiri VP and seedling tea
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Transcript of 5 60 Kumarasiri VP and seedling tea
International Forestry
andEnvironment
Symposium 2009
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A Comparative Evaluation of A Comparative Evaluation of Sustainability Indicators of VP Sustainability Indicators of VP and Seedling Tea in Nahavilla and Seedling Tea in Nahavilla
Organic ProjectOrganic Project
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G.D.O.C.KumarasiriDepartment of Plantation ManagementFaculty of Agriculture & Plantation ManagementWayamba University of Sri LankaMakandura Gonawila
Global awareness of health and environmental issues is spreading in the recent years
Also, sustainability in production has become the prime concern in agricultural development
Organic farming ensure air, water and soil around us
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IntroductionIntroduction
Definition of organic agriculture Definition of organic agriculture
Sustainable farming system where the cultivation is carried out without the use of chemically synthesized products such as pesticides, herbicides, hormones and activators
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Tea is comparatively a new entrant in the field of organic products
Sri Lanka was the first introduce organic tea to the world
Organic tea cultivation was first taken up in Sri Lanka in 1983
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Sri Lanka is the second major organic tea producer in the world
Total extent under organic tea production less than 1%
Organically grown tea fetches a 4 to 5 fold higher price than conventional tea
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Commercial estates growing Commercial estates growing organic tea organic tea NeedwoodIdalgashinna Bio tea ProjectKoslandeThotalagalaVenture Biofoods
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Sustainable parameters in organic tea has been reported and important in certification
Such information during in-conversion is scarce
present study was planned to compare and contrast the growth performance of tea during in-conversion to organic
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ObjectiveObjective
Evaluate shoot growth, yield and post prune recovery of VP and seedling mature tea during in-conversion period in organic tea project and see organic is sustainable during in-conversion period
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LocationNahavilla estate (In conversion Organic)
and Newburgh estate (Conventional) in Uva province IU3 agro-ecological region
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Materials & MethodsMaterials & Methods
CharacteristicsElevation 1420 m above mean sea levelThe soil is Red Yellow PodsolicSoil series MahawalatennapH ranges from 4.6 to 5.2CEC ranges from 2 to 8 c mol c kg-1
Conversion to organic in Nahavilla estate commenced in July 2007
20 months have been completed when research started
Nahavilla estate: International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM) recommendations
Newburgh estate: crop and pest management guided by the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka (TRISL)
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Following parameters monitored Following parameters monitored
1. Shoot growth
2. Yield
3. Foliar pests and diseases
4. Post prune and tipping
Crop responses of VP and seedling tea of Nahavilla and Newburgh estates monitored during April – June 2009
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VPCultivar TRI 2025Planted in year 1978Third year after pruning
Seedling fieldsOver 100 years oldSecond year after pruning
1.1. Shoot growth Shoot growth From each field, 15 bushes were selected
Shoots were marked using small aluminum tags
Length of shoot measured once a week initially and twice a week when the growth is rapid
The measurements were taken until it reached the pluckable stage
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2.2. Yield Yield
Take the fresh weight of each pluck
50 g was oven dried over night at 80 0C
Compare the difference between estates average yields and experimental yield
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3.3. Pest and disease incidence Pest and disease incidence in foliagein foliage
Number of total shoots
Healthy shoots
Tea tortrix and blister blight affected shoot counted separately
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4.4. Tipping data post prune Tipping data post prune
Field No. “4 VP” of Nahavilla in fourth prune was selected to assess the tipping measurements
Ten bushes of each selected plot from pruned field and evaluate post prune recovery
Tipping data were taken 20 weeks after pruning
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Results & DiscussionResults & Discussion
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Weather Weather
During the study period, a mean rainfall of 185 mm month-1 was received
Standard deviation of monthly rainfall was 23.39 mm month-1
That is represented weather in Uva during this spell
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1.1. Shoot growth VP Shoot growth VP
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Shoot growth seedling Shoot growth seedling
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2.2. Yield VP Yield VP
24Means with same letters represent non-significant differences (P=0.05)
a
Yield seedling Yield seedling
25Means with same letters represent non-significant differences (P=0.05)
a
3.3. Tea tortrix indexTea tortrix index
Means with same letters represent non-significant differences (P=0.05)
a
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Blister blight index Blister blight index
Means with same letters represent non-significant differences (P=0.05) 27
4.4. Post Prune Tipping DataPost Prune Tipping Data
Mean fresh weight of the tipping 966 kg ha-1 in Nahavilla estate
The mean number of shoots 30 per bush
Under Uva conditions, organic system has showed positive responses in crop establishment after pruning
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ConclusionsConclusions
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The yield and shoot growth did not show significant differences when compared with the conventional management system
Also, comparatively low incidence of tea tortrix and blister blight was found in the organically management system
The crop response following pruning of VP tea was positive
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Organic management practices help to establish and maintain general bush health, vigor and performance in tea during conversion to organic
Growing tea under organic system positive and feasible and a non stress causing practice in tea
The economic and practical applications of the organic practices under Uva conditions needed to be established for better adherence
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Economically feasible investment for long-term
We conclude Nahavilla organic project as a sustainable organic project
Studies on additional parameters are pending to elucidate the effects on,
ecological sustainability environmental friendly economic viability
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AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements Dr. I. S. B. Abeysinghe, Director, Tea Research Institute of Sri
Lanka, Talawakele
Mr. N. Wikramasinghe, General Manager, Hapugasthanna Plantation Mr. A.U.G. Weerasinghe, Manager, Newburgh estate
Field staff of the two estates and staff members of the Entomology and Nematology Division of TRI, Talawakele
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