| Abstract: |
Mieng tea garden is a traditional form of agroforestry, involving inter-planting of tea trees (Camellia sinesis) among trees in hill-evergreen forests, that is believed to have been practiced for more than 2,000 years in areas of northern Southeast Asia. Fermented tea leaves are called “Mieng”, which long been traded or
sold as a source of income. An old tea tree can be harvested for a long time with a minimum of attention and zero irrigation. Products from the Mieng tea garden currently include leaves, seeds, and Chinese tea. Today some tea gardens are being inter-planted with some other domesticated trees that can be grown in the same manner as traditional tea trees.
Benefits of trees in the Mieng tea garden:
• High plant diversity, especially useful plants including edible plants and domesticated plants.
• Spreading crowns protecting soils from evaporation loss. Dense crowns result in mild sunlight reaching tea leaves and less transpiration. Tea leaves are, as a consequence, of good quality.
• Tree shade is good for litter decomposition.
• Mieng tea gardens can also act as a buffer for runoff, especially in hill evergreen and pine forests. As a result, it can help protect the forest against fire and encroachment. |
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