CROP DIVERSIFICATION AND INTERCROPPING IN TEA LANDS 

P B EKANAYAKE 1 AND A P D A JAYASEKARA 2 

'yVo: 47, Richmond Hill, Hantane, Kandy 

1 Agronomy Division, Mid Country Regional Center, Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka, Hantane, Kandy 

Introduction 

Land use studies have shown that some areas planted with tea are not suitable for tea at present. This is 

attributed to improper land selection and to progressive soil degradation due to soil erosion taken place 

over the years. It is well known that at the inception of the tea cultivation, lands had been cleared and 

planted tea without due consideration for soil conservation and suitability of the land for cultivation, 

notably slope of the land and soil depth (Manipura, 1971; Krishnaraja, 1985 and Ekanayake, 1994a). 

Consequently, considerable extent of unsuitable lands had also been planted with tea. At present, land 

selection for the cultivation of tea is carried out by adopting specific criteria advocated by the TRISL. For 

areas already under tea, any replanting is done only after field investigations and categorization based on 

productivity and existing limitations. The fields are divided into A, B and C categories, where A and B 

are considered to be highly productive and the C category can be considered for diversification (Anon, 

1994). Being a shade loving plant, tea can be inter-planted with other crops of economic importance to 

maximize the land productivity. 

Intercropping 

The term intercropping refers to cultivation of a mixture of crops planted in a defined pattern of spatial 

arrangement (Bavappa and Jacob, 1982). The intercropping of two or more crops on the same land has a 

number of advantages such as better land utilization, higher productivity, enhanced net returns, favourable 

cost benefit ratio, reduced risk of dependence on a single crop and the generation of additional 

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employment opportunities. When compatible crops are selected, many agronomic benefits such as weed 

suppression, provision of shade, nutrient recycling and reduction of run off are also achieved. Good 

example is intercropping in coconut where coconut occupies the upper tier, banana/ papaya the middle 

tier, and pineapple, ginger or leguminous fodder, medicinal or aromatic plants occupy the lowest tier. 

Intercropping of compatible crops also encourages biodiversity, by providing a habitat for a variety of 

insects and soil organisms that would not be present in a single-crop environment. This biodiversity can 

in turn help to limit outbreaks of crop pests (Altieri, 1994). 

Tea is a shade and humid loving and shade tolerant tree species (Kulasegaram, 1980). The light utilization 

efficiency of a mono cropped tea plantation is very low due to its low light saturation point (Shanqing et 

al, 2001). The growth of tea is negatively affected by strong light, high temperature and low humidity. 

Therefore, the tea is usually grown under shade of trees and there is a high potential of supplementing the 

necessary shade by interplanting tea with other tree crop species. During the last few decades, most tea 

producing countries such as India, China, Soviet Union and Sri Lanka have been focusing on the study of 

ecophysiological conditions of tea for multicropping systems (Shanqing et al, 2001). In Sri Lanka tea 

small holders in the Mid country had been traditionally cultivating pepper, coffee and cloves in tea lands. 

With spice crops gaining economic importance during last two decades, there was greater attention for 

planned mix cropping systems not only among small holdings but also in larger plantations (Ekanayake 

1994b). Prior to 1990, intercropping with tea was confined to Export Agriculture crops (previously 

known as Minor Export Crops) such as pepper, coffee and cloves. During the last decade intercropping in 

tea extended to other plantations crops such as rubber and coconut. 

Intercropping tea with other plantation crops 

Investigations undertaken on intercropping tea with other plantation crops during the last two decades 

have shown promising results. Particularly, tea/rubber and tea/coconut was successfully intercropped in 

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Low country and some parts of the Mid country. In the case of tea and rubber intercropping, a special 

subsidy scheme was in operation, where a grower can get 75 % of the tea subsidy and 75 % of the rubber 

subsidy. In the case of tea and coconut intercropping grower can get the subsidy for the tea component 

and some inputs such as coconut seedlings and fertilizer from the Coconut Development Authority. 

Tea and rubber intercropping 

During the early 1980s, investigations on tea and rubber intercropping were initiated by the TRISL, in 

collaboration with the Rubber Research Institute (Plate 1). After several years of experimentation, two 

systems of rubber planting were recommended (Anon, 1997). 

In the first system, rubber rows are spaced 12 m apart, where 7 rows of tea at a spacing of 1.2 m x 0.6 m 

could be accommodated between two rows of rubber, the nearest tea row being 2.4 m away from the 

rubber (Figure 1). In the second system, there are double rows of rubber at a spacing of 2.4 m planted in a 

triangular manner, with two double rows spaced 18 m apart. In between two double rows of rubber, it is 

possible to accommodate 11 rows of tea, at a spacing of 1.2 m x 0.6 m (Figure 2). 

Land utilization in both systems is more than that of monocropping. In the first system, it is possible to 

have a 75 percent stand of tea and a 75 percent stand of rubber and in the second system it is possible to 

have a 75 percent stand of tea and an 80 percent stand of rubber. As a result, the land utilization in the 

first and second systems is 150 percent and 155 percent, respectively. Investigations have shown that in 

the first system when rubber reaches tapping stage i.e. 6-7 years after planting, the growth and yield of tea 

was affected due to excessive shading from rubber. As a result there was a progressive decline in per bush 

yield of tea (Ekanayake et al, 2002). However, this problem was not observed in the second system 

where rubber was planted at wider spacing of 12 m apart. 

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R <- 2.4 m - > R R 

t 

0.6 m 
<—> 

2.4 m 

I 

rji fji fjp rjr rji rj^ rji tji rji 

t 
1.2m 

1 
rji rji rji rji rji fji rji rji fj^ 

rj 1 fj 1 'J1
 fj"*

 rJ1 'J1 'J1 'jĵ  

T G T T T T G T T 

rji rji rji rji rji fji fji rji rj> 

rji fji rji rji rji rji rji rjp fji 

rji rji rji rji rji rjt rji rji rjp 

T 
2.4 m 

I 
R R R 

12m 

T - TEA R - R U B B E R G-GLIRICIDIA 

Tea stand - 75% (100% = 12500 plants/ ha) 
Rubber stand - 75% (100% = 500 plants/ ha) 

Figure 1. Tea and rubber intercropping spatial arrangement 

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R 

t 
2.4 m 

< - 2 . 4 m - > 
R R R R R 

| R R R R R R 

t 
2.4 m 

1 
0.6 m 

T TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT 

T T G T TTT G T TTT G T TTT G T TTT G T T 

T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T 1 8 m 

T T G T TTT G T TTT G T TTT G T TTT G T T 

R R R R R R 

R R R R R R 

T - T E A R-RUBBER G-GLIRICIDIA 

Tea stand - 75% (100% = 12500 plants/ ha) 
Rubber stand -80% (100%= 500 plants/ha) 

Figure 2. Tea and rubber intercropping spatial arrangement 

1.2m 

T TT 

T 

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Plate 1. Tea and rubber intercropping 

Tea and coconut intercropping 

As in the intercropping of tea and rubber, tea and coconut intercropping is recommended for areas 

conducive for the cultivation of both these crops (Anon, 2000). The tea and coconut intercropping system 

(Plate 2) could be adopted as (a) new planting of both crops, (b) intercropping tea in existing coconut 

lands, and (c) intercropping coconut in existing tea lands. For the new planting of both crops, coconut 

rows are at three spacing, namely 9.75, 11.0 and 12.0 m and tea is planted at a 1.2 x 0.6 m spacing. 

Accordingly, the land utilization varies from 157 percent to 163 percent (Table 1). 

Plate 2. Tea and coconut intercropping 

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Table 1. Number of plants of tea and coconut per ha under different spacing arrangement 

Coconut Coconut Tea Tea Tea 
Module Spacing (m) Palms/ ha Spacing (m) No. of tea 

rows within 
a coconut 
avenue 

Plants per ha 

1 9.75x 6.0 170 1.0 x 0.6 6 10000 
(32.x 20 ft) (68 per acre) (3.5x2.0 ft) (4000 per ac) 

2'"' 9.75 x 6.0 170 1.2x0.6 5 8500 
(32x20 ft) (68 per acre) .(4.0 x 2.0 ft) • (3400 per ac) 

.3 11.0x6.0 150 1.0x0.6 7 10500 
(36x20 ft) (60 per acre) (3.5 x 2.0 ft) (4200 per ac) 

4 11.0x6.0 150 1.2x0.6 6 'y- 9000 
(36x20 ft) (60 per acre) (4.0 x2.0 ft) (3600 per ac) 

5 ; 
12.0x6.0 . 135 1.0x0.6 8 ' :} 10800 

(40 x 20 ft) (54 per acre) (3.5x2.0 ft) (4320 per ac) 
6 12.0x6.0 . 135 1.2x0.6 7 9450 

(40x20ft) (54 per acre) (4.0 x2.0 ft) - (3780perac) 

The conditions required for intercropping tea in existing coconut lands are that the age of coconut should 

be over 35 years, in order to have adequate light for growth of the tea, and the coconut should be planted 

at a spacing of 8 x 8 m or more. Tea can be planted in between rows of coconut, or in the whole area, 

leaving a diameter of 1.8 m area each coconut palm as the manure circle. 

Intercropping coconut in existing tea lands can be done in agro ecological regions suitable for cultivation 

of coconut. 

Intercropping tea and export agriculture crops 

Pepper, coffee and cloves have been traditionally grown as intercrops, in the tea small holdings in Kandy 

and the Matale districts (Plate 3). Most of these lands resemble "Kandyan forest gardens" with multi-

storied canopies of cloves, coffee, pepper, and other crops like coconut, jak, fruit species, etc. in addition 

to tea. 

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However, for a systematic intercropping system, it is required that pepper should be spaced 6 m apart, and 

trained onto shade trees such as Gliricidia. It has been observed that pepper is the crop most compatible 

with both seedling tea and VP tea (Ekanayake, 1994b). The pepper variety 'Paniyur' was found to be the 

most suitable, as it does not harbour plant parasitic nematodes which affects tea (Gnanapragasam, 1989). 

Coffee is more suitable for seedling tea lands with poor stands of tea. The variety 'Robusta' is suitable for 

the mid-elevations, while 'Arabica' is more suitable for higher elevations. 

Since clove is endowed with a large and compacted canopy which casts a thick shade on the tea, it is best 

planted along field boundaries, at a spacing of 12 x 12 m. 

Intercropping tea and fruit trees 

Fruit tree species such as citrus, mango, avocado, rambuttan, etc. are planted as intercrops, particularly in 

small holdings in the Mid and Low elevations. It has been observed that fruit trees are more suited for tea 

fields with a low plant density, and that it is necessary to limit growth of the fruit trees by lopping side-

branches that may cast excessive shade on the tea (Ekanayake, 1994b). 

Plate 3. Intercropping tea and export agriculture crops 

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Conclusion 

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In order to enhance and sustain land productivity it is required to adopt new techniques and cropping 

systems, which utilize resources more effectively. In this respect, agro forestry systems such as 

intercropping in tea lands seem more appropriate and economically viable. 

References 

Altieri M A 1994 Biodiversity and pest management in agroecosystems. Food Products Press, New York. 

Anon 1994 Categorization of tea fields. Advisory Circular El, Serial No. 12/9, The Tea Research institute 

of Sri Lanka. 

Anon 1997 Guidelines on Tea and Rubber Intercropping.The Tea Research, and Rubber Research, 

Institutes of Sri Lanka. 

Anon 2000 Guidelines on Tea and Coconut Intercropping. The Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka. 

Bavappa K V A and Jacob V J 1982 High intensity multi-species cropping. World Crops. 34, 47-50. 

Ekanayake P B 1994a Soil management in tea plantations. Proceedings of the workshop on "Soil quality: 

Assessments of degradation and restoration", Colombo, Sri Lanka p. 104. 

Ekanayake P B 1994b Intercropping tea with cash crops. Multi-Purpose Tree Species News. 3,2-3. 



Ekanayake P B Wijeratne M A Jayakody J A A M and Shyamalie H W 2002 Present status of tea and 

rubber intercropping. Proceedings of the 204 t h Experiments and Extension Forum, Tea Research Institute 

of Sri Lanka. 3245. 

Gnanapragasam N C 1989 Varietal responses of pepper to infestation by the burrowing nematode, 

Radopholus similis. Sri Lanka Journal of Tea Science. 58 (1), 5-8. 

Krishnaraja P 1985 Soil erosion control measures for tea lands in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Journal of Tea 

Science. 54,91-100. 

Kulasegaram S 1980 Technical development in tea production. Tea Quarterly. 49 (3/4), 174-157. 

Manipura W B 1971 Soil erosion and conservation in Ceylon with special reference to tea lands. Tea 

Quarterly. 42,206-210. 

Shanquin Y, Shuangshang W, Pinghe W, Zhaohua Z, XinYu L and Yaomin F (2001) A study on 

Paulownia- Tea Intercropping System- Micro climate modification and economic benefits, IDRC Library 

documents, Agro forestry system in China. 

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