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Tobacco Irrigation
Hernandez P. R. Irrigation management in different tobacco varieties.
Taken from: Guerrillero Newspaper. From Seed to Smoke.2012, Pinar del Rio, Cuba.
It is important a proper management of irrigation because its excess or deficiency can cause irreparable damage in the yield and quality, mainly during the harvest. We know the unique quality of Cuban dark tobacco whose raw material is produced its famous Habanos cigars at large extent this is due to strict management made by farmers and producers with respect to the control of the water requirement. This statement is valid for any type of dark tobacco.
The detrimental effect of excessive moisture is known for the man since ancient times, the Cuban natives said to the canaries that were among the first European farmers tobacco, that the water sucked the honey to tobacco and today our farmers to define this concern that in wet years the tobacco is straw. Below are given some technical elements that could justify in part the criteria raised before.
Under irrigation conditions over the producer's needs, in function of the industrial use, there are serious effects on the chemical composition of the leaf and its physical properties, affecting them in the organoleptic characteristics of the cigaret, hence the tobacco for layers should not be restricted the moisture because would affect the thickness of the sheet, the development of veins and texture invalidating the same, meanwhile the stuffing tobacco lose the aroma, the smell and taste, in other qualities if grown in a wet year or with a water requirement superior than required.
The detrimental effect of excessive moisture is known for the man since ancient times, the Cuban natives said to the canaries that were among the first European farmers tobacco, that the water sucked the honey to tobacco and today our farmers to define this concern that in wet years the tobacco is straw. Below are given some technical elements that could justify in part the criteria raised before.
Under irrigation conditions over the producer's needs, in function of the industrial use, there are serious effects on the chemical composition of the leaf and its physical properties, affecting them in the organoleptic characteristics of the cigaret, hence the tobacco for layers should not be restricted the moisture because would affect the thickness of the sheet, the development of veins and texture invalidating the same, meanwhile the stuffing tobacco lose the aroma, the smell and taste, in other qualities if grown in a wet year or with a water requirement superior than required.
If is important to know the water regime, even more so is to define the time when this should apply the irrigation to the plants, this aspect does not depend on the type of tobacco, but if applied or not and the amount is dependent on whether the goal is to produce layer or fill. These moments are consistent with the following stages of growth and development of the plant:
-Adaptation phase ,first 8 days after planting.
-Phase high growth period,between 22 and 45 days after planting.
-Phase of maturation,from 45 days to harvest the upper leaves. At this stage the irrigation should be litle frequent and with low water requirement.
-Adaptation phase ,first 8 days after planting.
-Phase high growth period,between 22 and 45 days after planting.
-Phase of maturation,from 45 days to harvest the upper leaves. At this stage the irrigation should be litle frequent and with low water requirement.
Not all varieties respond similarly to the demands of irrigation, in this sense we can say that the varieties Havana-2000, Criollo-98 and Corojo-99 , the upper classes increases performance when irrigating with humidities of 70-75-65% of soil field capacity during the three stages of cultivation 0-20, 21-45 and 46-75 days after transplant respective. To achieve these objectives apply 2 light irrigation , 3 heavy irrigation and 2 light in each phase, respectively.
The variety Havana-92 does not require large volumes of water, especially in the adaptation period, where the plants are packed with great ease to the field. The total volumes should be used between 1 200 and 1 300 m3/ha for a 75-day cycle, which allows you to alter the proposed irrigation scheme for other varieties. The distribution of irrigations in this variety should be:
-Planting to finger: 170 m3, light irrigation.
-First live at 4 days: 110 m3/ha, pass water.
The variety Havana-92 does not require large volumes of water, especially in the adaptation period, where the plants are packed with great ease to the field. The total volumes should be used between 1 200 and 1 300 m3/ha for a 75-day cycle, which allows you to alter the proposed irrigation scheme for other varieties. The distribution of irrigations in this variety should be:
-Planting to finger: 170 m3, light irrigation.
-First live at 4 days: 110 m3/ha, pass water.
- Second live at 8-10 days: 110 m3/ha, pass water.
-First irrigation at 22 days: 200 m3/ha, medium irrigation.
-Second irrigation at 35 days: 208 m3 / ha, medium irrigation.
-First irrigation at 22 days: 200 m3/ha, medium irrigation.
-Second irrigation at 35 days: 208 m3 / ha, medium irrigation.
-Third-irrigation at 55 days: 180 m3, light irrigation.
If the year is dry and the rain is considered equal to zero, apply light irrigation about 65 days after transplant.
If the year is dry and the rain is considered equal to zero, apply light irrigation about 65 days after transplant.
Among other factors the tobacco water management depends on the qualities of soil, weather conditions, planting date, genotype and particularly the type of dark tobacco to produce, for that is gave the available information about this subject handled in the central and eastern provinces of Cuba.
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Varieties
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Number of irrigations
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Water requirements
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Observations
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Main cut
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New plant cut
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m3/ha/irrigation approximate
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It is recommended to irrigate under optimal field capacity for each variety
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Havana- 2000
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3-4
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2 by cut
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250-300
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Havana- 92
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3-4
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2 by cut
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250-300
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Havana Vuelta Arriba
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3-4
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2 by cut
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250-300
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Sancti Spíritus-96
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3-4
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2 by cut
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250-300
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Criollo-98
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3-4
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2 by cut
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250-300
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If there is not residual moisture in the soil for planting, irrigation should be given before performing it. Only the producer must be remembered that his experience and observation for several years in the field can give you idea of the procedure to be followed in each case and it is preferable that the tobacco suffer from lack of moisture in the first 25-30 days development, to see it grow vigorously because it was irrigated excessively, resulting in poorly developed root system.
In tobacco suit in the sun in the province of Pinar del Rio with possibility of irrigation, the water will be applied at the following times:
-In transplants, light irrigation.
-To apply soil to stick, light irrigation.
-From 24 to 25 days, heavy irrigation.
-From 32 to 34 days, heavy irrigation.
-From 38 to 40 days, light irrigation.
-From 50 to 55 days, heavy irrigation.
In tobacco suit in the sun in the province of Pinar del Rio with possibility of irrigation, the water will be applied at the following times:
-In transplants, light irrigation.
-To apply soil to stick, light irrigation.
-From 24 to 25 days, heavy irrigation.
-From 32 to 34 days, heavy irrigation.
-From 38 to 40 days, light irrigation.
-From 50 to 55 days, heavy irrigation.
Tobacco Irrigation 2007 Spain | Author: Rafael Juan García | Use Terms| Contact us