Stratiform Analysis of Growth, Total Nitrogen, Free Amino Acid and Neutral Detergent Fiber Concentration of New Shoots in Mechanically-plucked Tea(Camellia sinensis L.) Bush.

Abstract

Some factors which might relate to yield and quality were inverstigated by stratiform analysis in order to estimate the most suitable plucking height in the mechanically-plucked tea bush. During a period of new shoot growth of the first crop in 1992, new shoots were harvested at 1cm intervals from the top to the bottom of each tea bush. Weights of leaves and stems were heavier at the lower layers than the upper layers. The total nitrogen concentration was higher at thc upper layers. The free amino acid concentration was higher at the middle layers in the early harvest, and was higher at the upper layers in the late harvest. The neutral detergent fiber concentration was higher at thc lower lavers. These results show that at the upper plucking height, yield decreases but quality is enhanced. On the basis of these results, an attempt was made to modify the qualitative deterioration caused by the delay in harvesting time. In the plucking at the last skiffing height, the harvest on May 8th showed higher neutral detergent fiber concentration and less total nitrogen and free amino acid concentration than the harvest on May 4th. However, when plucked 2∼4cm higher on May 8th, the harvest showed the same level of chemical concentrations as the plucking at the last skiffing height on May 4th.