Nicotiana tabacum

TOBACCO

IntroductionIntroduction

• Native to Central & South America• Leaves are the economically important

part• Introduced by Portuguese to South Asia• High valued cash crop

Tobacco production in worldTobacco production in world

• World production – 6.2 million Mt (2007)• Extent – 3.7 million ha (2007)• Major producing countries

China

Brazil

India

USA

Tobacco production in SLTobacco production in SL

• Chewing tobacco

Production – 2438 Mt

Extent – 1302 Ha• Cigar tobacco

Production – 1327 Mt

Extent – 829 Ha• Ranked in 62nd place in world production

Major producing districtsMajor producing districts

• Puttalam• Kurunegala• Mannar• Vawniya• Mathale

ClassificationClassification

• Kindom – Plantae• Division – Magnoliophyta• Class – Magnoliopsida• Order – Solanales• Family – Solanaceae• Genus – Nicotiana• Species - tabacum

Cultivated species of TobaccoCultivated species of Tobacco

• Nicotiana rustia• Nicotina tabacum

Chemical compositionChemical composition

• Economically important chemicals are ,

Nicotine

Nornic

Commercial type of TobaccoCommercial type of Tobacco

• Flue cured Tobacco• Bidi Tobacco• Cigar & Cheroot Tobacco• Chewing Tobacco• Hokah Tobacco

Recommended varietiesRecommended varieties

Flue cured (Virginia ) Air cured (Burley)

K 326 Blanket A1

K 399 CSC 202

SPG 108

RGH 4

Climatic reClimatic re

• Tropical crop in origin but can be grown in subtropical and temperate regions

• Temperature – 15-35C• Relative Humidity – 85-90%• Rainfall – 500-1250mm

• Well distributed rainfall through out the year

Suitable soilsSuitable soils

• Sandy surface soil – 15-25cm depth• A yellowish / reddish sandy clay sub soil

depth of 150cm• PH - 5.5-6.5• Very low chloride content ( less than 100

ppm)

Raising nursery & production of seedlings

Raising nursery & production of seedlings

• Types of nurseries

1. Ground bed

2. CD trays and paper pots

3. Float nurseries

Float nurseriesFloat nurseries

• Intensive method• Not common in SL

CD trays & paper potsCD trays & paper pots

Ground bed nurseryGround bed nursery

• Commonly using method in SL

Nursery site selectionNursery site selection

• Avoid old nursery sites• Fine tilth• Flat/ low steep

Nursery lay outNursery lay out

• Raised beds• Length- convenient length ( maximum

10m)• Width – 120cm• Height – 15cm• Space in between beds – 45-60cm

Seed bed sterilizationSeed bed sterilization

• Two methods• Rabbing• Chemical sterilization

RabbingRabbing

• Spread 15-20 cm thick layer of leaves , weeds , paddy straw over the soil surface and burning

Seed bed sterilization(cont’d)Seed bed sterilization(cont’d)

2. Chemical sterilization• Can use,

Bordeaux mixture

Choloropicrin

Dichloropropane

Methyl Bromide

Calcium Cyanamid

StructuringStructuring

–Arches–Pegs

• To provide adequate shade

Tobacco SeedsTobacco Seeds

• Minute seeds• Low food reserves• Approximately 16000 seeds/g

Seed TreatmentSeed Treatment

• To avoid seed borne diseases, treated with– 2.5% Formaline solution– 0.25% solution of Dithane

• Soak in 50ppm gibberelin acid solution for 48 hours to hasten germination

Seed rateSeed rate

• 3.5 Kg/ha• Higher seed rate

– Over crowding of seedlings– Induces diseases- “damping off”

Sowing seed in nurserySowing seed in nursery

• Mixed with ash for fine sand– 1:15 or 1:20 Ratio

• To uniform distribution

on the beds

• 2 methods• Broadcasting• Sown in shallow furrows

BroadcastingBroadcasting

• Treated seeds are sown broadcast on the surface of the beds

• Later mixed in the soil up to 1.5-2.0 cm depth using a rake and compacted

Sown in shallow furrowsSown in shallow furrows

• Seeds sow in shallow furrows of 2.0 cm depth and 5.0 cm distance from each other

• Reduce over crowding

MulchingMulching

• Mulching materials– Paddy straw– Sugar cane leaves

• To prevent water losses• Remove gradually with the germination

Aftercare operationsAftercare operations

1. Sunning

2. Watering

3. Clipping

4. Weeding

SunningSunning

• Remove mulch and the cover• When cotyledons + 2 leaves stage

(Approximately 11 days)• Start with ½ hour per day• Fully open after 28-30 days

Clipping Clipping

• Removal of leaves • Reduce evapotranspiration • Induce root growth • Increase nutrient uptake

Watering Watering

• Tobacco is generally considered a drought-tolerant plant and produces better yields with less than desirable moisture than with excessive soil moisture. Under conditions of inadequate soil moisture

• The root system is susceptible to water saturated soil conditions, and over-application of irrigation should be avoided.

• Plant beds require a uniform supply of soil moisture. Tobacco seed germination is dependent on temperature, light and soil moisture

• Initially watering can be done in every evening • No water accumulation at any spot of the bed • Reduce in the hardening period • Immediately after transplanting, tobacco should

be irrigated with about 0.5 inch of water. This helps to settle the soil around the roots and provides moisture to stimulate fast root development.

• Surface and sprinkler irrigation are mostly practised.

• The quality of the water is important in selecting the most suitable irrigation method, e.g. sprinkler irrigation should be avoided when only low quality water is available.

Fertilizer Application Fertilizer Application

• Basal application of 50g of Ammonium sulphate, 100g of Potassium sulphate, 300g of Superphosphate and 100g of Dolomite per 10m2 bed

• Application of 40g of 4% Endosulfan dust per bed or one day before sowing per 10m2 bed

• After germination of seeds, apply ammonium sulphate twise at 4 days interval at 50g per bed

• Thereafter thrice at 4 days interval at 50g per bed

Disease Control Disease Control

• To control fungal diseases spraying 0.03% Bordeaux mixture at the rate of 12 L for every 40m2

• To control of pests spraying 0.5% carbaryl

Transplanting Transplanting

If you are growing your tobacco seedlings in a greenhouse or indoors they should be "hardened off" before you transplant into your field or garden

Methods of transplanting • Ridge and furrow method • Flat bed method

Ridge and Furrow MethodRidge and Furrow Method

• Ridge planting

width – 60cm

space between ridges – 30-45 cm

height – 30cm

space between plants - 90

Flat Bed Method Flat Bed Method

• Not widely use • Width – 150cm • Distance between plants – 90cm

Transplanting Transplanting

• Use 7-9 weeks old healthy seedlings • Cease the watering of beds 2 weeks prior

to transplanting • Watering well preceding day of pulling to

reduce the root damaging

• Transplant soon after uprooting • Moist the field for quick establishment of

seedlings • Gap filling 2 weeks after transplanting • Planting density – 15000plants per ha • Tobacco can be ready to harvest for curing

about 60 days after transplanting

Pests In TobaccoPests In Tobacco

Aphids

Cutworms

Hornworms

Wireworms

Flea beetles

Budworms

Thrips

Grasshoppers

Pest & Disease ManagementPest & Disease Management

• A certain amount of insect damage does not reduce crop value enough to pay for the cost of treatment

• Tobacco plants often compensate for insect damage

• Therefore Integrated pest management is usually practiced which consist of physical, biological and chemical control methods

Special management practicesSpecial management practices

De topping removal of apical bud Done in button stage(flowering stage) 18-20 leaves in the plant

De suckeringDe suckering

Removal of emerging auxiliary bud 2 weeks after de topping De suckering agents are used to stop the

growth of suckers & prevent from pest attacks

Ex: ARMOUR-1, ART-78

HarvestingHarvesting

70 days after transplanting First 2-3 leaves to ripen should not be

harvested, because it has a low level of solids content undesirable for manufacturing

Only mature, ripen leaves should be harvested

Mature leaves exhibit a slight yellowing and break off the stalk easier

The best quality cures occur when the tobacco is allowed to mature in the field

Harvesting methods

1.Priming method

2.Cut stalk method

Priming methodRemoving 5 lower leaves

in every 10-12 days5-6 harvesting timesFor high quality

production

Cut stalk methodDone in 3-4 weeks after a certain amount

of the plants in the field have broken budsWhole plant is cut at the base of the stemThe plant is then flipped upside down and

the leaves cure while still attached to the plant

Removing the leaves

from the stalks is called

“stripping”

Curing of TobaccoCuring of Tobacco

Done to enhance the leaf's natural aroma Allowed to undergo fermenting reactions under

controlled temperature & humidity Done in the barn Leaves will be dehydrated over a period of time

in curing barns 4 common methods

I. flue-curing

II.air-curing

III.fire-curing

IV.sun-curing

Flue-curing Tobacco leaves kept in an enclosed

heated area for about 1week Not directly exposed to smoke Fastest method for curing flue cured is also called bright tobacco,

because flue curing turns its leaves gold, orange, or yellow. 

Fire-curing Smoke from a low-burning fire on the barn

floor infuses the leaves for 3-10 weeks Leaves contain distinctive smoky aroma and

flavour Produced tobacco is low in sugar and high in

nicotine

 

Air curing sheltered from wind and sun in a well

ventilated chamber for about 6-8 weeks  Low in sugar, which gives the tobacco

smoke a light, sweet flavor, and high in nicotine

Sun-curing dries uncovered in the sun low in sugar and nicotine

BulkingBulking

 Leaves of different varieties must be bulked separately

Leaves from different stalk position must also be kept separate

The bulks have to be covered with polythene sheets  to compact the bulk without damage and to prevent gain or loss of moisture

Grading Grading  Sort according to;

manufacturing purposeplant position styles external appreciation

Important factors to be considered;-overall colour-blemish-damage-texture-leaf length-ripeness

Grading Con’tGrading Con’t

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Tobacco ProductsTobacco Products• Cigar• Cigarettes• Cheroots• Bidi• Snuff• Chewing tobacco• Loose leaf• Dipping tobacco• Cigarillos• Topical tobacco paste• Tobacco water