2015 Tobacco Production Update: Agronomy

Loren FisherMatthew Vann

Crop Science Department

Estimated FC Variety PlantingsNorth Carolina, 2014

Variety % Of Acres

NC 196 53 K 326 13

CC 143 8 CC 27 3

GF 318 NC 299 K 346 CC 67

CC 700 GL 395

3 3 2 2 2 2

Varieties With Above AVG Yield/A3yr avg. in OVT

Variety Acreage Yield Value BS GW% lbs/acre $/acre

CC 35 3185 5240 23 49PVH 2254 3055 5237 No Data No dataK 326 13 2938 5248 24 40NC 299 3 2909 5174 27 27GF 318 3 2906 5167 17 31PVH 2110 2906 5017 19 38CC 27 3 2868 4986 34 20NC 72 2839 4791 30 19PVH 1118 2834 5025 11 35NC 196 53 2820 5034 13 28CC 33 2817 5056 10 22NC 92 2801 4490 36 25CC 13 2792 5004 20 29GL 338 2761 4762 39 33CC 37 2760 4800 18 23CC 700 2 2752 4741 18 39CC 1063 1 2745 4817 12* 19** Limited Data

EPS Tray Sanitation

• Clean tray with plain water• Allow to dry• Fumigate with MB or Steam• Surface sterilization is not as effective as

fumigant or steam on polystyrene trays• If bleach or other tray cleaning solutions are

used make sure trays are rinsed WELL with CLEAN water and allowed to dry before seeding

Hard Plastic Trays

• New Hard Plastic tray for float system• Easier to sanitize• Extended life span (15-20+ years)• Trilogy Tray by BeltWide Inc.• Limited number of 288 cell trays available in

2015. Other cell sizes available in 2016.

Water Quality

• Have water tested every year (NCDA)• Avoid pond and river water• Most common problems– High bicarbonates (eastern NC)• Add sulfuric acid

– Low boron (Piedmont)• Add boron

Greenhouse Management

• Optimum Germination – 65 to 70 F at night– No more than 85 F during the day

• Warmer temperature (above 90 F) reduces total stand• Cooler temperatures only delay germ.• Constant temperatures can reduce stand

– Need difference in day/night temp for some varieties• A short time above 105 F can kill newly germinated seed

– Don’t trust automatic curtains– 110 + F for extended period can kill larger plants

• Only takes 55 days to produce a transplant• Can drop temp at night to 55 F after you have a good stand to

save fuel

Cold Injury

• Looks similar to B deficiency.

• Occurs when temperature falls quickly.

• Warmer temperatures will correct the issue.

Cold Injury

• Looks similar to B deficiency.

• Occurs when temperature falls quickly.

• Warmer temperatures will correct the issue.

Dry Cells

• Occurs when water does not wick.

• Old media

• Buy new media

• Water overhead

Fertility

• Water soluble fertilizer added to water– 3-1-3, 2-1-2, 4-1-4 analysis

• 150 ppm N added within 7 days after seeding• 100 ppm N 4 weeks later• Or maintain 100-125 ppm N with Injector

High Bicarbonates

• As detected by water sample• Battery Acid (sulfuric acid)• Recommendation on water sample report

• “Checker board” pattern in greenhouse• Slow growth, pale to gray color

Boron Deficiency (GH)

• Causes bud distortion• If no boron in water or fertilizer• Add Borax• Very small amount needed, toxicity is worse than

deficiency• Recommendation is for 1-2 ppm B• Most fertilizers will supply 0.5 ppm or less– Enough unless environmental conditions are

favorable for deficiency, Rapid growth/or slow growth

Fertilizer Effects on Water pH

• Well water ranges from 4.5-8.5 pH• 16-4-16, 15-5-15, and 21-5-20 are acidic and

should only be used on high pH water• pH of 4 and below can burn off roots in the

float water, but no lasting effects

Fertilizer Salts Injury

• Fertilizer salts accumulate in the top of the tray as float water evaporates

• Salts can kill very small seedlings• Increases spiral root plants• Waiting to add fertilizer to bed reduces loss– But don’t wait more than 7 days

• Check fertilizer salts with conductivity meter• Water overhead to lower salt level

Spiral Roots

Spiral Roots

• First root at germination fails to go into media• Can be a few or up to 60% • Causes:• Damage to root tip at emergence– Seed pellet, but uncommon– Environment

• 50-75% will never make a usable transplant

Clipping

• Increases usable transplants• Increases uniformity of transplants– Stem length and stem diameter

• Improves hardiness• Holds plants for transplanting• Optimum is around 5 times• Many are clipped 20 or more times

Clipping

• Start when total plant height is 2-2.5 inches above bud

• Clip every 3-5 days• No closer than 1-1.5 inches above the bud• High vacuum mower• Dump clippings 100 yards from greenhouse

Spray Equipment

• Take extreme care if you ever use a “field” sprayer to power the spray boom in your greenhouse

• “Clean” sprays kill transplants every year• Spartan Charge: Aim

Nitrogen Application

• 50% at transplanting + 50% at layby– Often does not supply enough N in a wet year– Often supplies too much N in a dry year

• Consider making more than two applications– 50% at transplanting + 25% at layby + 25% two

weeks after layby with liquid N if needed– Can be applied directly to the soil surface with a

high clearance sprayer

2014 Calcium Deficiency

• Bud/tip leaves are most likely show deficiency– Downward cupping/hooded look

• Typically occurs at flowering– Result of rapid plant growth

• Often disappears once topping occurs– Removal of affected tissue– Root growth stimulation

Lower Photo Courtesy of Mitch Smith-Pitt County Extension Agent

Addressing Calcium Issues in the Field

• Collect routine soil samples in each field that tobacco will be produced in.– This will determine the amount of soil available Ca

• Most tobacco fields will have sufficient Ca reserves due to previous applications of lime.

• To prevent or reduce the risk of Ca deficiency top plants as early as possible.– Topping will stimulate root growth, which increases Ca uptake

• Ca deficiency is transient and will correct itself– Foliar Ca applications are not recommended – Little to no foliar Ca uptake, must be absorbed in the roots

2014 Boron Deficiency

• Symptoms:– Deformed Bud– Misshapen Leaves– Twisted Bud/Leaves

• Likely Causes:– Low Soil B– Excessive Rainfall– Rapid Plant Growth

Photos Courtesy of David Dycus (retired NCDA Agronomist)

Boron Deficiency Symptoms

Photos courtesy of Dr. David Hardy, NCDA

Boron Deficiency Symptoms

Addressing Boron Issues in the Field

• Consider using a base fertilizer material that will supply 0.25-0.50 pounds of B per acre.– Works well with blended materials– Consider tank mixing liquid B with liquid N where dry materials are not utilized

• Only apply foliar B if tissue samples are deficient.– 0.5 lbs B/acre in a single foliar application should correct deficiency – DO NOT apply unless nutrient deficiency is confirmed – DO NOT over apply, B can be toxic at 1.0 lb/acre

• 0.25 lbs B/acre + 0.25 lbs B/acre, both applied foliar

Weed Control

• Increasing focus on weed control in recent years.– Weed seed contamination

in exported leaf

• Limited herbicide options for tobacco production.– Available herbicides will

help

Weed Control

• Spartan offers the best broadleaf control.– Excellent control of pigweed, nutsedge, and

morningglory– Lower rate (4.0-4.5 fl.oz./acre) on sandy soil– Higher rate (5.0-6.0 fl.oz./acre) on heavier soil

• Command offers best grass and ragweed control.– 1.5-2.0 pts/acre for best results.

Weed Control

• Both materials can be applied PPI or Pre-Transplanting.– PPI ensures herbicide activation but increases

injury potential with Spartan– PRE-T reduces injury potential but may require

irrigation or cultivation for activation when soil moisture is low

– Tank mixing the two products reduces crop injury without reducing efficacy

Questions??