Growth response of bush tea (Athrixia phylocoides DC.) to climatic conditions in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the response of bush tea (Athrixia phylicoides DC.) to rainfall, relative humidity and temperature. Four sites, namely, Haenertsburg, Witvlag, and two sites at Khalavha in the Limpopo Province of South Africa were selected for investigation. Data on average rainfall, relative humidity and temperature were obtained 90 days prior to each field visit. During the five field visits over a 3-year period (2014–2016), bush tea plant height and stem diameter were measured and leaves were counted per plant. Correlation analyses suggested that bush tea height, stem diameter and number of leaves per plant significantly (p < .01) increased with increases in average daily rainfall (39.85 mm), average relative humidity (63.83%) and average temperature (29.21 °C) in all study areas. Temperatures ranging from 27.5 to 31.4 °C had the biggest influence on plant height followed by rainfall reaching a maximum at 80.8 mm. Rainfall and humidity had the biggest influence on stem diameter and rainfall had the biggest influence on the number of leaves. This information provides basic understanding from which bush tea growth responses to climatic conditions can be understood.