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Effects of Soil Moisture and Vapour Pressure Deficits on Shoot Growth and the Yield of Tea in the Kenya Highlands

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

H. O. Odhiambo ,
J. O. Nyabundi  and
J. Chweya
H. O. Odhiambo
Affiliation:
Tea Reasearch Foundation of Kenya, PO Box 820, Kenya
J. O. Nyabundi
Affiliation:
Crop Science Department, University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya
J. Chweya
Affiliation:
Crop Science Department, University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya
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Summary

Prolonged moisture stress and high vapour pressure deficits reduced the shoot water potential, shoot population density, rate of shoot extension and yield of clonal tea. The more drought susceptible Clone 6/8 had a lower shoot water potential, rate of shoot extension, number of shoots per unit area, rate of shoot regeneration and yield than the more tolerant Clones 31/8, 57/15 and 15/10 during the periods of low soil moisture, which coincided with high vapour pressure deficits. The changes in the shoot growth components could be used as an index of the suitability of different clones for different regimes of soil moisture and vapour pressure deficits.

Factores ambientales que afectan el rendimiento del té

Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 29 , Issue 3 , July 1993 , pp. 341 - 350
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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