The sprinkler irrigation model for tea plants is effective

According to Mr. Nguyen Chinh Cuong, Director of Lao Cai Irrigation Sub-department, the pilot of successful construction of rain sprinkler model for tea at Phong Hai Tea One Member Limited Company is being replicated to serve Strategic crop production strategy for upland crops in Lao Cai province in the coming time.

Investment capital for the irrigation system for 1 ha of tea is about 40 million VND, the productivity of fresh tea buds is from 10-12 tons / ha / year, the added value includes saving labor cost of approximately 20 million VND / ha /year.

Meanwhile, the cost of electricity is insignificant, with each hectare of tea needed to be irrigated 15-20 times a year, every 4-8 hours, the cost is about 3-4,000 VND / time. After 3 years can recover investment capital.

In 2010, from the investment capital of the Agriculture and Rural Development Assistance Program in the 2007-2012 period, funded by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), the Department of Water Resources implemented a pilot of rain spraying. for tea at Phong Hai Tea Company Limited, Bao Thang district, 2.1 ha of irrigated area, with an expense of VND 300 million.

Department of Irrigation has cooperated with Phong Hai Tea One Member Limited Company, Technical Department (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development), Bao Thang District Economic Office, Phong Hai Town People's Committee. model building.

The application of this irrigation system has brought many practical benefits. Growers proactively irrigate in accordance with the seasons and requirements of tea plants, overcome the techniques of watering the hills, where water is scarce, not apply normal irrigation measures by channel.

Rain sprinkler method is also active and improves the efficiency of fertilizer to be dissolved, soaked right into the ground, reducing the ability of sublimation of nitrogen fertilizer, increasing the absorption capacity of plants.

This method saves labor costs in carrying water, spraying pesticides, transporting liquid microbial fertilizers.

In particular, sprinkler sprays help increase the number of picking rounds, increase the quantity and quality of tea in each batch of about 30-50%. Tea growers have more winter tea - the price is usually higher on Tet holiday, improving economic efficiency.

According to Mr. Nguyen Dac Thuy, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Director of Phong Hai Tea Limited Company, since applying the rain sprinkler method, the tea yield of the farm Significantly increased, investment costs decreased, so tea growers were excited.

Tea irrigation is mainly carried out in the dry season, 17-20 irrigation cycles are carried out each year, maximum 60m ³ / ha for each irrigation period, 1-2 days / 4-8 hours / day depending on the situation. soil moisture, the conversion of irrigation time in a year is about 160 hours.

Therefore, the combination of irrigation works with water supply works is very reasonable, ensuring the effective promotion of the synthesis of water resources, low cost of pumping energy, the system is continuously managed, this is the tissue The picture is being encouraged by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Lao Cai currently has nearly 4,000 hectares of tea. From now to 2015, the area may nearly double. The application of irrigating methods to irrigate not only contributes to reducing labor capacity, improving productivity and output of tea but also ensuring the quality, lowering the price of tea products, benefiting both producers and consumers. .