engleski

Agronomic performance of Croatian flue-cured tobacco cultivars under two planting densities

In Croatia improvement of flue-cured tobacco yield and quality has been achieved through development of new cultivars and adjustment of growing practices. The tobacco is commonly grown at planting density of about 22, 000 plants per ha. Lower number of plants per ha might reduce production costs, and improve cured leaf quality. In this study, performance of six Croatian flue-cured tobacco cultivars planted at two densities, 22, 000 and 18, 000 plants per ha was studied at two locations, Kutjevo (silt loam soil), and Virovitica (sand loam soil), from 2005 till 2008. The two densities were achieved with spacing 100 cm between and 45 cm within rows, and 100 cm between and 55 cm within rows, respectively. Experimental design was RCBD with four replications and three 22 plant rows per each experimental plot. Twenty middle row plants were harvested and cured in bulk curing barns with the commercially grown tobacco. Cured leaf was graded into six commercial grades from which yield (kg ha-1) and price (kn ha-1) were estimated for each experimental plot. By multiplying price and the respective plot yield, value of each experimental plot (kn ha-1) was calculated. Chemical analysis was done one year only, using ninth leaf of the harvested plants. Interactions cultivar x planting density, year x planting density and location x planting density, were not significant. Significantly higher yield, 12.30%, and higher value, 12.17%, were obtained at the planting density of 18, 000 plants per ha. Price did not change significantly. Lower number of plants per ha resulted in slightly higher nicotine content. The results indicated that with the presently grown flue-cured tobacco cultivars higher yield and value without deteriorating cured leaf quality could be obtained with planting about 18, 000 plants per ha.

flue-cured tobacco; planting density; agronomic performance

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