2017 ASHS Annual Conference

Shade cloth has been used in field production of some specialty crops to reduce excessive heat and light while preserving soil moisture. Shade can alter morphological and physiological characteristics of some crops. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different colored shade cloths on the growth and yield of newly planted tea (Camellia sinensis L. Kuntze). One year old tea plants were planted in a drip irrigated field at R. R. Foil Plant Research Center at Mississippi State University, MS on 4 May 2016. Plants were pruned to a uniform height and soil was fertilized based on soil test results. Plants were treated with either 40% black shade cloth, 40% red shade cloth, 40% blue shade cloth, or a no shade control. Plots were arranged in a randomized complete block design, with three blocks and 10 subsamples per plot. Data on growth index, SPAD, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductivity, fresh and dry weights of new shoots, and tissue nutrients were collected. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models with GLIMMIX procedure of SAS (version 9.4; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Growth index and photosynthetic rate were higher in plots with black shade cloth compared to no shade treatment. Growth index and photosynthetic rate of plots treated with black, blue and red shade were comparable. New shoot fresh and dry weights were higher in plots treated with black shade than any other treatments. Survival rate was 100% for all shade treatments and 60% for no shade treatments. There was no significant difference in SPAD, tissue nutrient concentration, or stomatal conductivity among all treatments. This study suggested that, in general, use of shade cloth increased plant growth and survival rate, however, the effect of shade on leaf quality needs to be further investigated.