Effect of time of planting and row spacing on the micro-environment and agronomic characteristic of flue-cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabaccum L.)

Date

1983

Abstract

The study was conducted from November 1981 to May 1982 to describe the microenvironment of flue-cured tobacco under different times of planting and row spacing, to determine the amount of light intercepted by the plants at different stages of growth, to establish relationships among measurable plant characters and climatic variables and to determine the effect of time of planting and row spacing on the chemical contents of flue-cured tobacco leaves. There were six plantings with an interval of 12 days. The first was on November 26 and the last on January 25. The different row spacings were 75, 85, 90 and 100 cm with a uniform distance of 50 cm between hills. Flue-cured tobacco variety Balikbayan was used as test plant. The microclimatic conditions of tobacco changes due to time of planting. There was an increasing trent in daylength, air and soil temperatures as planting time was delayed from November to January while relative humidity, total bright sunshine and percent maximum possible sunshine decreased. Row spacing did not affect the microclimate of tobacco significantly. Light interception at different stages of growth were generally higher in plots with closer spacings. It increased from early growth stage up to the time when tobacco reached its extensive canopy, 65 DAT, and then gradually decreased up to maturity. Some agronomic characters of tobacco such as plant height, leaf area, grade index and cured yield were significantly but negatively related to air and soil temperatures but positively related to sunshine duration and relative humidity. The combined effect of time of planting and row spacing on the parameters observed were not significant. However, time of planting significantly influenced plant height, leaf area, number of harvested leaves, yield, grade index, crop value and number of days to flowering. Highest grade index, crop value, yield and percent nicotine content of the leaves were obtained from December planting. Row spacing had a significant effect on yield, number of harvested leaves and crop value. Cured yield decreased in a linear manner as the plant population density decreased from 26,666 to 20,000 plants per hectare. Nicotine reducing sugar contents were inversely related to plant density. The study generally showed that the best time for planting flue-cured tobacco variety Balikbayan is from November to December at a row spacings of 75 to 85 cm to give high yield and quality tobacco.

Document Type

Master Thesis

Degree

Master of Agriculture

Major Course

Major in Agrometeorology & Farm Structures Engineering

Language

English

LC Subject

Tobacco curing

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 995 1983 A38 C35

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS