Tea plant covering material and tea plant covering method

Abstract

To provide a covering material for tea trees, which can improve the efficiency of covering and recovering the covering material in cultivating tea trees. [Solution] Covering material A, which is an example of a covering material for tea trees to which the present invention is applied, comprises a sheet body 1 and a belt part 2. Furthermore, a plurality of buttonholes 20 are formed at regular intervals along the longitudinal direction of the sheet in the belt part 2. A fastening band part 3 and a loop part 4 are attached to some of the plurality of buttonholes 20 in the belt part 2.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a covering material for tea trees and a covering method for tea trees, and more particularly to a covering material for tea trees and a covering method for tea trees that can improve the efficiency of covering and recovering the covering material during tea tree cultivation. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, tea plants have been cultivated under cover, in which they are shaded for a certain period of time (covered tea cultivation). Covered cultivation results in tea leaves with coarse, soft veins, thinner leaves, and an increased amount of chlorophyll, resulting in darker green tea leaves.

[0003] Furthermore, because cover cultivation can prevent the conversion of theanine, a flavor component, into catechin, it has long been used as a cultivation method for high-quality teas such as gyokuro, which are rich in flavor components.

[0004] In recent years, even in tea plantations other than those intended for the production of gyokuro or tencha, cover cultivation, in which tea plants are directly or indirectly covered with black covering material that blocks out light by about 70 to 80%, has become widespread.

[0005] Generally, in cover cultivation, by using cover materials to block out light for about 7 to 10 days before harvest during each tea season, from the first flush around the 88th day after the harvest to the third flush in the summer, the quality of the growing shoots (leaf color and umami component content) can be improved and the optimum picking period can be expanded.

[0006] Furthermore, while there are many green tea varieties, production sites that rely heavily on the "Yabukita" variety need to adjust harvest times, including through cover cultivation. Cover cultivation is also an essential technique for improving the quality of the green leaves (harvested new shoots, branches, and leaves) that are used as raw materials for crude tea (leaf tea, the so-called raw tea before being processed into finished tea).

[0007] For example, in the Nishikyushu Market (Saga and Nagasaki prefectures) where Ureshino Tea is listed, the proportion of unripe tea grown under cover in the total first-season tea shipments for the 2022 harvest is a whopping 92% (covered cultivation area in Saga prefecture: approximately 500 hectares).

[0008] Furthermore, the winning bid price was 192% higher than that of tea grown without cover cultivation, and because the difference in winning bid price between tea grown with and without cover cultivation is large, it can be said that the market has high expectations for tea production sites with cover cultivation.

[0009] Here, in conventional cover cultivation, for example, a method has been adopted in which a black covering material is placed over the crowns of the tea plants, and the covering material is fixed in place by clamping the branches of the tea plants with pinches (clothespin-like fixing devices) attached to both sides of the covering material (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

[0010] More specifically, as an example of a conventional cover cultivation method, the following method has been carried out.

[0011] First, the covering material is made of black polyethylene fiber, plain woven or intertwined, and measures 2.0 m wide x 50.0 m long, with a shading rate of 65 to 75% or 80 to 85%.

[0012] (Development and fixing process of covering material) Furthermore, assuming a tea field 10a (for example, 11 ridges, with a ridge crown width of 1.8m and a ridge length of 50.0m), the covering material is spread out over the crowns of the tea plants, and as a measure against wind, pinches attached to both sides of the covering material are used to pinch the covering material to branches of an appropriate position and thickness at the base of the tea stalks, thereby fixing the covering material in place.

[0013] The pinches used to secure the covering material are attached on both sides of the material at intervals of approximately 2 m, with a total of approximately 600 pinches per 10 a.

[0014] (Removal and recovery process of covering materials) Also, just before picking on the day of harvest, the approximately 600 fixing pinches are released and clamped onto the edge of the covering material, and workers move around while rolling up the covering material from the edge into a roll and collect it. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0015] [Non-Patent Document 1] Koizumi Seima Co., Ltd. Company Homepage Product Column Baron Screen, [online], [Searched on August 7, 2024], Internet<URL: https: / / www.koizumiseima.co.jp / column / 2015 / 04 / blog-post_17-3 / > Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0016] Here, with the conventional cover cultivation method, each step of the process, such as unfolding the covering material, securing it with pinches, releasing the pinches, and recovering the covering material, was extremely time-consuming and placed a heavy burden on workers.

[0017] With the above method, it took approximately one hour per 10a for two workers to unfold the covering material and secure it with pinches.

[0018] In addition, the work of undoing the pinches and removing the covering materials during harvest also took approximately one hour per 10 ares when performed by a team of two workers.

[0019] In addition, with cover cultivation, the tea fields are covered with covering materials around the time of harvest, and then the covering materials are removed just before picking on the day of harvest, after which the tea is picked, making it a continuous process.

[0020] Therefore, the conventional cover cultivation method has had the problem of placing a heavy burden on workers and making it difficult to secure the necessary manpower.

[0021] In agricultural production, the aging of producers and the shortage of successors are becoming a chronic issue, and a serious labor shortage is becoming an urgent issue, especially for tea farmers, many of whose production bases are located in mountainous areas.

[0022] On the other hand, as mentioned above, considering the improved market value of "covered tea" produced using cover cultivation, cover cultivation can be said to be an essential management technique with a high economic effect in tea industry management, and it is necessary to continue and further expand cover cultivation management techniques in the future.

[0023] In order to continue this type of cover cultivation under the current harsh working conditions, there is an urgent need for a method to improve work efficiency and reduce the labor required without compromising the effectiveness of the conventional cover method.

[0024] The present invention was devised in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide a covering material for tea trees and a method for covering tea trees that can improve the efficiency of work such as covering and recovering the covering material in tea tree cultivation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0025] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the covering material for tea trees of the present invention comprises a sheet body having light-blocking properties, side edge portions located on a pair of opposing end edges of the sheet body and having a plurality of holes formed along their longitudinal direction, a plurality of fastening belt portions attached to each of the pair of side edges and each of which is a belt body of a certain length, one end of which is detachable from the hole and the other end of which is formed with a fastening portion that can be fastened to the tea tree, and a plurality of annular loop portions provided on each of the pair of side edges and inserted into the hole portions and attached to the hole portions.

[0026] The shading sheet body can cover the crowns of tea plants, shading them while they are being cultivated. This improves the leaf color and umami component content of growing new shoots, and makes it possible to extend the suitable time for tea leaf picking.

[0027] The sheet body has side edges located on a pair of opposing edges and having a plurality of holes formed along its length, and a plurality of belts attached to each of the side edges, each having a fastening portion at the other end that can be fastened to the tea plant, so that the sheet body can maintain its covering over the tea plant crowns when blown by the wind.

[0028] Furthermore, since the fastening belt is a belt body having a fixed length and has a fastening portion formed at the other end that can be fastened to the tea plant, the fastening position on the tea plant can be selected depending on the length of the belt body, improving usability, and by fastening the fastening portion at an appropriate position, the fixing force of the sheet body to the tea plant can be increased.

[0029] In addition, multiple holes are formed in the side edge portion, and one end of the fastening belt is detachable from the hole portion, so that the fastening belt can be attached to any position by selecting a hole portion to which the fastening belt is to be attached from the multiple holes in the side edge portion.

[0030] Furthermore, the annular loops provided on each of the pair of side edges and inserted through the holes allow the operator to hook their fingers into the loops to unfold or fold the sheet body, making it easier to handle the sheet body and to cover and collect it.

[0031] Furthermore, if the hole is a buttonhole with a reinforced periphery, the strength of the hole can be improved. This prevents the hole from being torn or damaged when the sheet body is blown by the wind and a load is applied to the hole where one end of the fastening belt is attached. Similarly, when a worker holds the sheet with their fingers hooked onto the loop portion and a load is applied to the hole where the loop portion is attached, the hole can be prevented from being torn or damaged. Furthermore, the improved strength of the hole allows the sheet body to be pulled tightly via the loop portion, making the sheet body easier to handle and facilitating the covering and collection operations.

[0032] Furthermore, if the side edges are formed by bands attached to a pair of edges of the sheet body, and multiple buttonholes are formed on the bands, positioned on the same line at a fixed interval, the sheet body will have a structure in which strong buttonholes are lined up in a row on the pair of edges, and the bands on the side edges will be stiffer and more taut (under tension) than the sheet body. That is, for example, when a certain length of sheet body is unfolded and fixed to the furrows of tea plants, it is necessary to pull the edges and loops of the sheet body horizontally to adjust the tension of the sheet body, but by providing stiff, taut bands on both edge portions of the sheet body, the sheet body will be easier to unfold.

[0033] Furthermore, if the fastening belt is made of a stretchable elastic material and the fastening is an S-hook, the sheet body can be secured to the tea plants by simply pulling the belt and hooking the S-hook onto the tea plant branch. Furthermore, when the sheet body covering the tea plants is blown by the wind, the fastening belt stretches and contracts, reducing the impact of the wind on the sheet body and the fastening.

[0034] Furthermore, when the fastening belt portions are provided at least at both ends and the center of the side edge portion, the sheet body is fixed to the tea plant at both ends and the center of the sheet body, making it possible to achieve even more stable and firm fixation.

[0035] Furthermore, if the sheet body is formed to a length of 25 m or more and a width of 4 m or more and 6 m or less, it will be possible to cover a certain area of ​​not just one ridge but multiple ridges of tea plants that are formed in parallel at regular intervals with a single tea plant covering material.

[0036] In addition, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the tea plant covering method of the present invention comprises a covering step of spreading a light-blocking sheet body while grasping a plurality of annular loop portions attached to a pair of end edges thereof to cover the upper part of the tea plant ridges with the sheet body, a sheet fixing step of fastening the fastening portions at the ends of a plurality of belt bodies attached to the pair of end edges of the sheet body to the tea plant, and a recovery step of removing the sheet body from the upper part of the tea plant ridges while grasping the loop portions and folding the sheet body at the position of the loop portions.

[0037] In the covering process, the light-blocking sheet body is unfolded while gripping the multiple annular loops attached to a pair of edges, and the sheet body covers the upper part of the tea plant furrows, thereby covering the canopy of the tea plant and shading the tea plant while cultivating it. As a result, the leaf color and umami component content of the growing new shoots improve, and the optimum harvesting period for tea leaves can be extended. Furthermore, workers can efficiently unfold the sheet body by hooking their fingers into the loops.

[0038] Furthermore, in the sheet fixing process, the sheet body is fixed by fastening the fastening parts at the tips of the multiple belt bodies provided on a pair of end edges of the sheet body to the tea plants, and the sheet body can be fixed to the tea plants by the simple operation of pulling the belt bodies and fastening their tips to the tea plants.

[0039] Furthermore, in the recovery step, if the sheet is removed from the upper part of the tea plant ridges while gripping the loops and folding the sheet at the loops, the recovery of the sheet can be easily carried out after the tea plants have been covered and cultivated. That is, the sheet can be recovered more efficiently than, for example, the process of rolling up a sheet of a certain length from one end into a roll.

[0040] Furthermore, when the upper portions of multiple ridges of tea plants arranged approximately parallel to one another are covered with the sheet body in the covering step, multiple ridges can be covered collectively with one sheet body, which improves the efficiency of the covering step.Furthermore, when the sheet body is removed after cover cultivation, the efficiency of the recovery step can be improved. [Effects of the Invention]

[0041] The covering material for tea trees according to the present invention can improve the efficiency of work such as covering with the covering material and collection during tea tree cultivation. Furthermore, the tea plant covering method according to the present invention is a method that can improve the efficiency of work such as covering with covering materials and recovering them during tea plant cultivation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0042] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a covering material A according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a schematic enlarged view showing the state in which the fastening band portion is attached to the buttonhole. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a schematic enlarged view showing the state in which the loop portion is attached to the buttonhole. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a photograph showing the state of covered ridges in a tea field in an example and a comparative example. [Figure 5] 1 is a graph showing the fatigue felt by workers in an example and a comparative example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] [Embodiments of the present invention] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings to facilitate understanding of the present invention. The following is an example of a covering material for tea trees to which the present invention is applied, and the present invention is not limited to this, and settings can be changed as appropriate.

[0044] In the following description, the upper side of the figure will be referred to as "upper side" and the lower side of the figure will be referred to as "lower side" and "lower side", respectively, based on Fig. 1. The right side of the figure will be referred to as "right side" and the left side of the figure will be referred to as "left side".

[0045] The direction connecting the top and bottom is referred to as the "top-bottom direction or the short-side direction of the seat," and the direction connecting the left and right is referred to as the "left-right direction or the long-side direction of the seat." The direction formed by the top-bottom and left-right directions is referred to as the "horizontal direction," and the direction perpendicular to this is referred to as the "vertical direction."

[0046] As shown in FIG. 1, a covering material A, which is an example of a covering material for tea trees to which the present invention is applied, comprises a sheet body 1 and a belt portion 2.

[0047] Here, the sheet body 1 is a sheet material for covering the crowns of tea plants to shade them during cultivation. The belt parts 2 are provided along the upper and lower edges of the sheet body 1, and are members to which the fastening band parts 3 and loop parts 4, which will be described later, are attached.

[0048] The sheet body 1 is a black sheet material made of polyethylene and has a light blocking rate of 70 to 75%. The sheet body 1 is formed to have a length of 25 m in the longitudinal direction and a width (length in the short direction) of 6 m.

[0049] The belt 2 is a belt-shaped cloth body made of mesh material, and is attached by sewing to the upper and lower edges of the seat body 1. The belt 2 has a plurality of buttonholes 20 formed at regular intervals along the longitudinal direction of the seat (see Figure 1).

[0050] More specifically, the multiple buttonholes 20 formed in the belt portion 2 are aligned in a line parallel to the longitudinal direction of the sheet (see Figure 1). The belt portion 2 has a longitudinal length of 25 mm, the same as the sheet body 1, and a width of about 6 cm.

[0051] Here, it is not necessary for the covering material A to be composed of a main sheet body 1 and a belt portion 2, and for the belt portion 2 to have multiple buttonholes 20 formed along the longitudinal direction of the sheet. For example, the covering material A may have a structure in which multiple buttonholes 20 are formed along the longitudinal direction of the sheet at each of the top and bottom ends of the main sheet body 1. However, by attaching the belt portion 2 as a separate body to the top and bottom ends of the main sheet body 1 by sewing, the top and bottom ends of the main sheet body 1 can be reinforced and improved in durability. Furthermore, compared to the main sheet body 1, the belt portion 2, which has strong buttonholes lined up in a row, is harder and has a taut (tensioned) structure, making it easier to unfold the main sheet body 1 when unfolding and fixing it. From these points of view, it is preferable for the covering material A to be composed of a main sheet body 1 and a belt portion 2, and for the belt portion 2 to have multiple buttonholes 20 formed along the longitudinal direction of the sheet.

[0052] Furthermore, the sheet body 1 does not necessarily have to be a black sheet material made of polyethylene, but it is sufficient if it is made of a material that has a certain degree of light blocking property. Furthermore, the sheet body 1 does not necessarily have to have a light blocking rate of 70 to 75%, but the light blocking rate can be set appropriately.

[0053] Furthermore, the sheet body 1 does not necessarily have to be limited to a longitudinal length of 25 m and a width (transverse length) of 6 m. However, assuming that the length of tea plant ridges is approximately 50 m or 100 m, it is preferable that the length of the sheet body 1 be set to 25 m, in order to protect a certain length with one sheet body 1 and to ensure easy handling by workers. Furthermore, considering that the width of a typical tea plant ridge is 1.8 m, it is preferable that the width of the sheet body 1 be 4 m or more and 6 m or less, in order to be able to cover two or three ridges at a time with one sheet body 1.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 1, a fastening band portion 3 and a loop portion 4 are attached to some of the buttonholes 20 in the belt portion 2.

[0055] Here, the fastening band portion 3 is a member for fixing the covering material A that covers the crowns of the tea plants to the tea plants, and the loop portion 4 is a member that an operator grasps when unfolding or retrieving the main sheet body 1.

[0056] The fastening band 3 is made up of an elastic rubber band 30 and an S-shaped hook 31 attached to the tip of the elastic rubber band 30 (see Figures 1 and 2). The base end of the rubber band 30 is fastened detachably through the buttonhole 20.

[0057] Furthermore, a plurality of fastening bands 3 are provided for one belt part 2. That is, in the belt part 2, one fastening band 3 is attached to one buttonhole 20, and a plurality of such bands are provided.

[0058] When fixing the covering material A to the tea plant, the rubber band 30 can be pulled and the S-shaped hook 31 can be hooked at a position on the branch of the tea plant where it is easy to fix, thereby fixing the locking band 3.

[0059] The loop part 4 is a ring-shaped member made of polyester and has a diameter of about 10 cm, and is also attached through a buttonhole 20 in the belt part 2 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0060] Furthermore, a plurality of loop portions 4 are provided for one belt portion 2. That is, in the belt portion 2, one loop portion 4 is attached to one buttonhole 20, and a plurality of such sets are provided.

[0061] As shown in Figure 2, it is also possible to attach both the fastening band 3 and the loop portion 4 to one buttonhole 20. In addition, the base end of the rubber band 30 has a structure that allows it to be attached and detached from the buttonhole 20, so the fastening band 3 can be attached to different buttonholes 20 by changing the buttonhole 20 to which it is attached.

[0062] In addition, in covering material A, three fastening bands 3 are attached to each of the upper and lower belt portions 2, and one sheet body 1 has a total of six fastening bands 3.

[0063] Furthermore, in one of the band portions 2, fastening bands 3 are attached to both ends and the center in the longitudinal direction of the seat body 1.

[0064] In addition, in covering material A, six loop portions 4 are attached to each of the upper and lower band portions 2, and one sheet body 1 has a total of 12 loop portions 4.

[0065] Each belt portion 2 has loop portions 4 on both ends in the longitudinal direction of the sheet body 1. The loop portions 4 are attached at intervals of 5 m.

[0066] Here, the fastening band 3 does not necessarily have to be made of a stretchable rubber band 30. However, it is preferable that the main body of the fastening band 3 be made of a stretchable elastic material, because this makes it easier to select the position on the tea plant branch where the S-shaped hook 31 is to be hooked, and because the main sheet 1 fixed to the tea plant stretches and contracts when blown by the wind, thereby reducing the impact of the wind on the main sheet 1 and the tea plant.

[0067] Furthermore, the tip of the fastening band 3 does not necessarily have to be configured with an S-shaped hook 31. However, it is preferable that the tip of the fastening band 3 be configured with an S-shaped hook 31, because when fastening the main body sheet 1 with the fastening band 3, it can be easily fastened by simply hooking it onto a branch of the tea plant.

[0068] Furthermore, loop portion 4 does not necessarily have to be a ring-shaped member made of polyester and having a diameter of about 10 cm; any annular member attached to buttonhole 20 will suffice. However, it is preferable that loop portion 4 be a ring-shaped member made of polyester and having a diameter of about 10 cm, as this makes it easier for the worker to insert their hand and reduces the likelihood of excessive strain being placed on the palm of the hand when pulling.

[0069] Furthermore, it is not necessary to provide a total of six fastening bands 3 on one main sheet body 1, and the number of fastening bands 3 can be set as appropriate. However, from the perspective of firmly fixing the main sheet body 1 to the tea plants, it is preferable to attach fastening bands 3 to both ends and the center in the longitudinal direction of the main sheet body 1. Furthermore, if there are a total of six fastening bands 3 on one main sheet body 1, the work of fastening and releasing the fastening bands 3 on one main sheet body 1 becomes relatively less laborious, so it is preferable that a total of six fastening bands 3 be provided on one main sheet body 1.

[0070] Furthermore, it is not necessary to provide a total of 12 loop portions 4 on one sheet body 1. Furthermore, it is not necessary to attach the loop portions 4 at 5 m intervals. However, it is preferable that the plurality of loop portions 4 be attached at regular intervals, because this makes it easier to fold the sheet body 1 using the positions of the loop portions 4 as a guide when folding the sheet body 1 accordion-folded and efficiently recovering it when removing it from the tea plants.

[0071] The covering material A, which is an embodiment of the present invention described above, can easily secure the sheet body 1 to the tea plant by covering the crown of the tea plant with the sheet body 1 using multiple fastening bands 3 provided on each of the upper and lower edges of the sheet body 1.

[0072] After the cover cultivation, the sheet body 1 can be easily released from the state where it is fixed to the tea plant by the fastening band 3, and can be efficiently collected.

[0073] Furthermore, with the covering material A, workers can easily grasp the multiple loop portions 4 provided on each of the upper and lower edges of the sheet body 1 to unfold and retrieve the sheet body 1.

[0074] Next, an example of a method for covering tea plants to which the present invention is applied will be described. Hereinafter, a method for covering the ridges of tea plants using the above-mentioned covering material A will be described.

[0075] [Deployment work] First, in the method of covering tea plants using covering material A, workers use covering material A to cover the tops of the tea plants in the rows of tea plants being cultivated in the tea field.

[0076] In this case, for example, two workers are positioned above and below the main sheet 1, and grasp either the left or right end of the folded main sheet 1, and unfold the covering material A along the length of the sheet. In addition, here, the workers can put their hands through the annular parts of the loop portions 4, grip the loop portions 4 with their palms and thumbs, and pull the main sheet 1.

[0077] Furthermore, by gripping the loop portion 4 with the hand, the main body sheet 1 is less likely to slip off when unfolded, and the unfolding work of the covering material A can be carried out more reliably.

[0078] In addition, with the main sheet 1 unfolded in the longitudinal direction of the sheet, each fastening band 3 is pulled and the S-shaped hook 31 at the tip of the fastening band 3 is hooked onto a branch of the tea plant (a branch located below the crown) located below the main sheet 1 and near the fastening band 3, thereby fixing it in place.

[0079] The worker can secure the covering material A sufficiently by fastening all of the multiple fastening bands 3 on the top and bottom of the main sheet 1 to the branches of the tea trees. This completes the work of unfolding and fastening the covering material A. After this, the tea trees are grown under cover for a certain period of time while being shaded by the covering material A.

[0080] [Recovery work] After a certain period of cover cultivation, the covering material A fixed to the tea plants is collected on the day of harvest and immediately before collection. When collecting, the S-hooks 31 hooked onto the branches of the tea plants are removed from the branches, and all of the fixing by the retaining bands 3 is released.

[0081] Furthermore, in consideration of the subsequent work of folding and collecting the main body sheet 1, the released fastening band 3 is placed on the top surface side of the main body sheet 1 (the side opposite the tea plants).

[0082] Thereafter, two workers are positioned above and below the main sheet 1 and collect the main sheet 1 from either the left or right end. The workers grasp the loop portions 4 at either the left or right end of the main sheet 1.

[0083] The worker then accordion-folds the main body sheet 1 at the positions of the loop sections 4 provided at regular intervals along the longitudinal direction of the sheet, and collects the main body sheet 1 while folding it. As six loop sections 4 are provided at 5 m intervals along the longitudinal direction of the main body sheet 1, the covering material A can be folded in a six-fold accordion fold.

[0084] In this collection operation, the covering material A can be collected efficiently by grasping the loop portions 4 provided at regular intervals and folding the sheet in an accordion-like manner. Furthermore, by grasping the loop portions 4 with the hands, the main body sheet 1 is less likely to slip off during collection, allowing for a more reliable folding operation.

[0085] As described above, in the tea plant covering method of the present invention, the covering material can be efficiently fixed to the tea plant and released from the fixed state using multiple fastening bands 3 provided on each of the upper and lower edges of the sheet body 1.

[0086] Furthermore, in the method for covering tea plants of the present invention, the worker can grasp the loop portions 4 to unfold and retrieve the main sheet body 1 easily and reliably.

[0087] [Example] Below, the workability and other aspects of covering tea plants using the above-mentioned covering material A and the conventional covering material B were evaluated.

[0088] [Conditions for tea fields to be covered] The conditions for tea fields to be covered are as follows: The tea field must be 10 a (1,000 m) in size. 2 ) and 11 50m long furrows have been formed. The crown width of each furrow is 1.6m, and the furrows are spaced 0.2m apart.

[0089] [Type of covering material] The covering material A described above was used as one covering material. In the above tea field, one covering material A covers up to three ridges in the width direction of the ridges, and covers half of the 50m length (25m) in the length direction of the ridges. The covering and collection operations using this covering material A in a 10a tea field (11 ridges) are taken as an example. In the example, the covering material A was collected by folding it in a six-fold accordion fold. In the example, eight sheets of covering material A were used for the 10a tea field.

[0090] As another covering material, a conventional commercially available covering material B was used. The main body of covering material B is made of the same material as main body sheet 1 of covering material A, and is formed to have a length of 50 m and a width of 2 m. Furthermore, covering material B has multiple pinches (clothespin-like fasteners) on each of the top and bottom edges. Furthermore, one covering material B has 594 pinches.

[0091] In the above tea field, one covering material B covers one ridge in the width direction of the ridge and covers the entire length of the ridge in the length direction of the ridge. The covering work and collection work using this covering material B in a tea field (11 ridges) of 10 a in size will be used as a comparative example. In addition, in the comparative example, when collecting the covering material B, it was collected by rolling it up in a roll along its length. In addition, in the comparative example, 11 sheets of covering material B were used in the tea field of 10 a in size.

[0092] The covering and collection work for the tea plants in this example and comparative example was carried out by two people, one man in his 60s and one woman in her 20s, and the time required for each task was measured and an overall evaluation of fatigue was made.

[0093] The time required for work did not include the time spent transporting materials and moving from one ridge to the next. The overall evaluation of fatigue was scored on a scale of 0 to 5 (the higher the score, the greater the fatigue).

[0094] Figure 4 also shows the state in which the tea field ridges are covered with covering material A (see the left side of Figure 4) and the state in which the tea field ridges are covered with covering material B (see the right side of Figure 4).

[0095] (Table 1) JPEG2026041591000002.jpg3564

[0096] As shown in Table 1, the working time required for both the deployment and fixing work in the covering scene was shorter in the working example than in the comparative example. Compared to the comparative example, the working time required for the working example was reduced by 84% in the deployment work, 95% in the fixing work, and 90% in the entire covering scene.

[0097] Furthermore, as shown in Table 1, the working time required for both the release work and the recovery work in the recovery scene was shorter in the working example than in the comparative example. Compared to the comparative example, the working time required for the working example was reduced by 95% for the release work, 70% for the recovery work, and 80% for the entire recovery scene.

[0098] As shown in FIG. 5, the fatigue felt by the two workers during the deployment and retrieval stages was less in the example than in the comparative example. [Explanation of symbols]

[0099] A. Covering materials 1 seat body 2 Obi section 20 Buttonholes 3 Retaining band 30 rubber bands 31 S-hook 4 Loop section

Claims

1. a sheet body having light-blocking properties; side edge portions located on a pair of opposing end edges of the sheet body and having a plurality of holes formed along the longitudinal direction thereof; a plurality of belts attached to each of the pair of side edges, each having a certain length, one end of which is detachable from the hole and the other end of which is formed with a fastening part that can be fastened to the tea plant; a plurality of annular loop portions provided on each of the pair of side edges, the loop portions being inserted through the holes and attached to the holes; Covering material for tea plants.

2. The hole is a buttonhole with a reinforced periphery. The covering material for tea plants according to claim 1.

3. the side edge portions are formed of band-shaped bodies attached to the pair of end edges of the seat body, The buttonholes are formed in the band-shaped body in a plurality of positions on the same straight line at regular intervals. The covering material for tea plants according to claim 2.

4. The fastening belt portion is formed of an elastic material having stretchability, The locking portion is an S-shaped hook. The covering material for tea trees according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The fastening belt portion is provided at least at both ends and the center of the side edge portion. The covering material for tea plants according to claim 4.

6. The sheet body is formed to have a length of 25 m or more and a width of 4 m or more and 6 m or less. The covering material for tea trees according to claim 1 or 2.

7. a covering step of spreading the light-blocking sheet body while grasping a plurality of annular loop portions attached to a pair of edges of the sheet body, to cover the upper part of the ridges of the tea plants with the sheet body; a sheet fixing step of fixing the sheet body to tea plants by fixing the fixing portions at the tips of the belt bodies provided on the pair of end edges of the sheet body; a recovery step of removing the sheet body from the upper part of the tea plant furrows while holding the loop portion and folding the sheet body at the position of the loop portion. Methods of covering tea plants.

8. In the covering step, the upper portions of a plurality of ridges of the tea plant arranged approximately parallel to one another are covered with the sheet body.

8. The method for covering tea plants according to claim 7.

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