Effect of different machine-plucking on autumn tea yield and quality—A case study of the famous Bailumaojian hilly plantation tea

Through a series of 4-year field experiment in hilly tea plantations, the effect of double machine-plucking, heavy machine-plucking, light machine-plucking and no machine-plucking on yield and quality of Bailumaojian tea was examined. The results show that: double and heavy machine-plucking increase bud density and one-leaf and one-bud (fold) yield in autumn. They also remarkably decrease bud weight, length and fitting ratio for processing of Bailumaojian tea. Among the 4 treatments, light machine- plucking has the largest one-leaf and one-bud (fold) yield fitting for processing famous Bailumaojian tea. Chemical analysis shows that leaves of four treatments are all fit for processing famous Bailumaojian tea, while those of no machine-plucking treatment have the best organoleptic quality. The study shows that proper machine-plucking increases yield of Bailumaojian tea in autumn, whereas no or light machine-plucking yields the best quality fresh tea leaf.