The drought is caused mainly by adverse climatic conditions that exert influence on both crop-physiology and yield-potential. Main effect of drought is the water loss from the plant surface through high evapo-transpiration rate, and evaporation from the soil-surface.
To alleviate the effect of drought, two types of remedial measures, such as, the modification of tea ecosystem/environment and the soil conservation are practiced. The Environmental control involves the regulation of shade trees and windbreak to minimize the intensity of solar radiation, wind velocity, and air temperature which regulate the evapo-transpiration rate of tea plant. In contrast, the method of Soil Conservation includes the preservation of good nutrient status adding organic matter, mulching and planting cover crops in the field. None of these individual practices may not be adequate to avert the effect of drought but an integrated approach towards Eco-management is the pre-requisite to the drought management. (Chowdhury, 1989).
