Effects of pruning on hydrological characteristics of tea tree litter

ObjectiveThe effects of pruning intensity on biomass,ecological and hydrological characteristics of lit-ter of tea leaves were studied,and the theoretical basis was provided for the quantitative study and evaluation of litter hy-drological service function in tea garden.MethodTaking the 14-year-old Huangguanyin tea garden as research object, combining field pruning and indoor water holding simulation test,litter biomass,water holding and dehydration charac-teristics of litter under three different pruning intensities(0-20,0-15 and 0-7 cm)were measured.Correlation between bio-mass,water holding and water loss characteristics with time of litter were analyzed.ResultThe biomass of tea leaf litter was 1.75-2.49 t/ha under three different pruning intensities. The maximum water holding capacity of litter was moderate pruning(121.33%)>severe pruning(113.69%)>light pruning(106.16%). The maximum water holding capacity of severe (2.89 t/ha)and moderate(2.83 t/ha)pruning treatments was significantly higher than that of light pruning(1.86 t/ha)(P<0.05);but the maximum water loss capacity was moderate pruning(0.84 t/ha)>severe pruning(0.73 t/ha)>light pruning (0.67 t/ha).The water absorption rate of litter in the first 0.5 h was the maximum,indicating that it could intercept precipi-tation within a short time quickly,reduced the formation of surface runoff. The best fit equation for litter water holding ca-pacity,water holding rate,water loss capacity,water loss rate and soaking time(t)was W=a+blnt;the best fit equation for water absorption rate,water loss rate and time(t)was power function V=atb(a,b were coefficient).ConclusionAs tea garden grows ,the difference in water holding capacity between moderate and severe pruning is not obvious ,but the water holding capacities are larger than that of light pruning. Therefore,moderate and severe pruning can improve ecological hydrological functions in tea garden.