Post-Buyout Dark Tobacco Production. Dr. Andy Bailey Dark Tobacco Extension Specialist University of Kentucky

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1 Post-Buyout Dark Tobacco Production Dr. Andy Bailey Dark Tobacco Extension Specialist University of Kentucky

2 Possible Changes in Dark Tobacco Production Reduced price should know by early January Lesser price drop than seen in burley Increased dark air-cured buying intensions? Purchase of red leaf burley discontinued? More direct indications about desired production practices from buyers Desired varieties (screened or LC varieties) Curing practices Stick spacing, # of firings, temperature, storage More specific on amount and quality May not be as accepting of tobacco delivered in excess of contracted amount. More stringent on use of non-registered pesticides More input into desired quality characteristics

3 Quality in Dark Tobacco Has always been important in dark tobacco Quality is from the buyer s perspective, not the grower s Buyer s quality perspective can change over time Fire-cured: lighter color more desirable Mainly a leaf chemistry indication Cured properly No fat stems No sweat or houseburn Solid color, no green or sunburn Deliver sound leaf not too high in moisture, free of mold and foreign material including dirt. Desirable leaf chemistry (low alkaloid and TSNA levels)

4 Most Common Production Problems in Dark Tobacco Fire-Cured: Limited variety selection Nitrogen use Excessive N rates Acidifying N sources Field diseases Black Shank Black root rot Viruses Topping too low Barn stick spacing Cured leaf chemistry Air-Cured: Extremely limited variety selection Field diseases Acidifying N sources Barn stick spacing Close spacing in row Use of MH for sucker control Transplanting and harvesting on time Disease management and curing

5 Dark Tobacco Variety Selection Severely limited compared to burley Yield potential, quality, disease resistance Variety % Grown Curing Limitations NL Madole 35 Fire/air No disease resistance VA Fire/air Limited disease res. KY Fire/air Limited disease res. VA Fire/air Low yield potential TN D950 6 Fired only Quality problems Lit. Crittenden 5 Fire/air No disease resistance TR Madole 4 Fired only No disease resistance DF Fired only Coloring (dark face) KY Air only Low yield potential TN D950

6 2003 Dark Air-Cured Variety Trials Mean of 4 Locations in Western KY Locations: Graves (2), Logan, and Simpson Co. Total Yield and Ranking: Lug Second Leaf Green Yield (lbs/acre) KY 160 OS 400 Lit Crit Imp Mad TR Mad NL Mad Varieties KY 171 VA 309 VA 355 VA 359

7 2004 Dark Fire-Cured Variety Trials Mean of 2 Locations in Western KY Graves and Carlisle Co. Total Yield and Ranking: Lug Second Leaf Yield (lbs/acre) DT 518 KY 171 DF 911 TN D950 VA 355 VA 309 Varieties VA 359 Lit Crit NL Mad TR Mad

8 YIELD (LBS/A) Dark Tobacco Variety Performance Under Severe Black Shank Infestation Dean Hutcheson Farm, Woodlawn, TN LSD (0.05) = (total) TOTAL (lbs/a): LUGS SECONDS LEAF *No substantial green in any var. TR Madole VA 359 TN D950 KT D3 KT D4 VARIETY

9 Possible Effects of Excessive Nitrogen Increased amounts of green tobacco following curing Delayed maturity from excessive N in plant at season s end Swelled or fat stems Nitrate loading of leaf midrib causing decreased moisture loss Possible negative effects on cured leaf chemistry Alkaloids and TSNAs

10 Effect of N Rate on Quality and Revenue HRES, Springfield, TN *Revenue values based on federal support price of grades N Rate Total Yield Crop Index Grade Index Revenue Lb N/Acre Lb/Acre $/Acre LSD(0.05) St. error

11 Comparison of N Rates Bruce Cline Farm Crofton, KY DF 911

12 Yield (lb/acre) Comparison of N Rates Bruce Cline Farm Crofton, KY Variety: DF 911, Fire-Cured LSD (0.05) = (total) Lug Second Leaf Total Yield/A: N/A 300 N/A 500 N/A 1000 N/A Nitrogen Rate

13 Effect of N Rate on TSNAs Bruce Cline Farm Crofton, KY N Rate NNN NAT NAB NNK Total TSNAs Lb N/A mg/g mg/g mg/g mg/g mg/g LSD (0.05)

14 Nitrogen Source Study Mark Hayden McLean Co Total lb/a Lbs/A Urea (NH 3 ) Ammon. Nitrate Sodium Nitrate Calcium Nitrate Na Nit./ K Nit Nitrogen Source (300 lbs N/A) Ca Nit./ Sulf. of K HSD Lug = 181 Second = 547 Leaf = 714 Total = 649 Leaf Second Lug NL Madole 100 N/A BC 200 N/A SD ph = 5.8

15 Nitrogen Sources on Dark Tobacco Houston Whitaker Farm - McLean Co., KY Yield (lbs/acre) LSD(0.05) = (total) Trash Lug Second Leaf Total lbs/a: VA 359 ph = Urea (45-0-0) Amm. Nit. (34-0-0) Na Nit. (16-0-0) Ca Nit. ( ) Sidedress N source Na-K ( ) Ca Nit/SOP ( )

16 Topping Stage and Height Objective: compare dark tobacco yield from Eastern and Western District topping styles. Eastern style: topped at elongated bud stage to 12 leaves. Western style: topped at 50 to 100% bloom stage to 16 leaves. Treatments: Bloom stage: elongated bud, 50% bloom, 100% bloom Topping height: 12 leaves, 16 leaves

17 Influence of Bloom Stage on Dark Tobacco Yield Kerry Wiggins Farm Sedalia, KY Yield (lbs/acre) LSD 0.05 = (total) Total Yield (lb/a): Lug Second Leaf Elongated Bud 50% Bloom 100% Bloom Bloom Stage

18 Yield (lbs/acre) Influence of Topping Height on Dark Tobacco Yield Kerry Wiggins Farm Sedalia, KY LSD 0.05 = (total) Lug Second Leaf Total Yield (lb/a): 3570 * Leaves 16 Leaves Topping Height

19 Alternative Production Practices May Have a Place in Future Production No-Till: Reduced soil erosion, compaction, and machinery cost. Cleaner tobacco Irrigation and plastic mulch Increased yield in dry seasons Increased water use efficiency and water conservation Cleaner tobacco

20 No-Till Dark Tobacco No-Till Narrowleaf Madole UKREC, Princeton, 2004 Yield was equivalent to conventionally-tilled dark tobacco

21 Plasticulture and Drip Irrigation in Dark Tobacco Narrowleaf Madole Logan Co., KY $300/A recurring cost lbs/a yield increase over conventional tobacco