Tea (Camellia sinensis (L), in Tanzania has been traditionally harvested by hand. In recent years, the shortages of labour and high cost associated with hand harvesting have compelled tea growers to opt for mechanical harvesting. Mechanical harvesting has high productivity, but it has some undesirable effects including decline in yield. Shoot weight is one of the yield components. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of harvesting methods (hand and mechanical (shear)) and NPK fertilizer rates on shoot weight. The study was conducted using randomized complete block design (RCBD) with spilt-plot arrangement. The harvesting methods formed the main plots, fertilizer rates the
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