Erlina Ambarwati

Pertumbuhan, Hasil dan Kualitas Pucuk Teh (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) di Berbagai Tinggi Tempat

Altitude is a factor affecting the yield and quality of tea tip. There is a close relationship between the elevation and temperature. The air temperature decreases with the increase of elevation. A field trial was carried out in order to 1) determine the effect of elevation on the growth, yield and quality of tea tip and 2) determine the optimal elevation to the cultivation of tea. The research was conducted in October - December 2010 at Tea Garden of PT. Pagilaran, Keteleng Village, District Blado, Batang Region. The research was carried out using Assamica tea type with 3 years old of pruning. The research was conducted in multi-location design with three blocks as replication. The tested treatments were five altitudes, namely 735, 896, 980, 1.023 and 1.254 m above the sea level. The observations were done on several variables of growth, yield and quality of tea tip. Data were analyzed with Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at 5% level, continued with Least Significant Difference (LSD). The optimal elevation to growth, yield and quality of tea tip were determined using regression analysis. The results showed that the growth, yield and quality of tea tip plucked at an altitude of 980 m above the sea level were higher than the growth, yield and quality of tea tip derived from the 735, 896, 1.023 and 1.254 m above the sea level. Therefore, the optimal elevation to the growth, yield and quality of tea tip was at 980 m above the sea level. The elevation was included in the medium zone, namely 800 – 1.200 m above the sea level.