Adnan Niazi Department of Agronomy Mphil Scholar at BZU (BahauddinZakriyaUniversity, Multan) +92-303-8701782

2. Adnan Ashraf Niazi
Roll No M096, 8th Semester, Agronomy
College of Agriculture, UOS

3. Production Technology of
Tobacco

4. Outlines
 Botany of the plant
 History
 Distribution in Pakistan and Worldwide
 Production technology
 Economic Importance
 Medicinal uses

5. Botany Of Tobacco
 Local Name: Tambaku
 English Name: Tobacco
 Family: Solanaceae
 Botanical Name:
 Cigarette Tobacco: Nicotiana tabacum L.
 Desi or Hukka Tobacco: Nicotiana rustica L.

6. History of Tobacco
 Plant grows natively in North and South America.
 It is in the same family as the potato, pepper and
poisonous nightshades, a very deadly plant.
 Seed of a tobacco plant is very small.
 A 1 ounce sample contains about 300,000 seeds.
 It is believed that tobacco began growing in the
Americas about 6,000 B.C.

7. The New World Discovered
 On October 15, 1492, Christopher Columbus was
offered fried tobacco leaves as a gift from the American
Indians that he encountered.
 Soon after, sailors brought tobacco back to Europe,
and the plant was being grown all over Europe.
 European believed that tobacco could cure almost
anything from bad breath to cancer.

8.  In 1571, A Spanish doctor named Nicolas Monardes
wrote book about history of Medicinal plants of the
new World.
 In this he claimed that tobacco could cure 36 health
problems.
 In 1588, A Virginian named Thomas Harriet promoted
smoking tobacco as a viable way to get one’s daily dose
of tobacco.
 Unfortunately, he died of nose cancer (because it was
popular then to breath the smoke out through the
nose).

9. History of Tobacco in Pakistan
 The origin of the tobacco production in Pakistan
(formerly Hindustan).
 Dates to the reign of Emperor Akbar, when introduced
by the Europeans.
 Before the creation of Pakistan, Nicotiana tabacum
and N. rustica were grown in KPK, Punjab and Sindh
for local consumption.
 First commercial cultivation of FCV tobacco in KPK
coincides with the creation of Pakistan.

10.  The history of tobacco in Pakistan is closely linked to
the Pakistan Tobacco Company.
 Pakistan went from being a net importer of tobacco in
1948, which is when PTC started operations, to
becoming self sufficient in tobacco production in 1969.
 Although tobacco is grown throughout the country,.
 The primary source of this integral raw material is the
KPK where soil and climatic conditions suit tobacco
cultivation.
 The province grows the three most widely used types
of tobacco namely
 Flue Cured Virginia (FCV), Burley and Nicotiana rustica
(White patta).

11.  PTC as the largest cigarette manufacturers in Pakistan,
has a special relationship with the land and the people
of the KPK.
 The fruit of these activities is that in just 30 years
Pakistan became the 6th largest tobacco producer in
the world and 6th in highest yield.

12. Top Tobacco Growing
Countries

13. 1
2
3
4
5
6

14. Production Technology of
Tobacco

15. Locality and Soil
 Tobacco can be cultivated successfully throughout the
country.
 Tobacco is generally considered a tropical crop, but
grows throughout a wide range of latitude.
 Pakistan fall amidst approximately 24° and 37° north
latitude, i.e outside the limits of the tropics (231/2°).
 But still tobacco can be grown in large areas of the
country.

16.  Limiting factors in these areas are frost, early monsoon
rains, windstorms, hailstorms, and non-availability of
irrigation water.
 Winds tear the maturing or matured leaves and cause
desiccation.
 Hailstorms damage the leaves physically as well as
lower temperature below the desirable limits.
 Therefore, environmentally, the cultivation of this crop
is restricted to regions of rainfall (300-500mm).
 Temperature range between 13-37°C.
 Crop can be grown from sea level to 1500 m elevation.

17.  Tobacco requires well-drained, light to medium-
textured soils with pH 5.5-7.
 In Pakistan, tobacco is grown generally medium to
moderately fine-textured soils.

18. Seedbed Preparation and
Manuring
 Tobacco is not raised directly from seed in the field.
 Seed is first sown in the nursery and then
transplanted.

19. Seedbed (Nursery bed) Preparation
 It is well known that
“well begun is half done”.
 A good seeded is
necessary to produce
healthy seedlings.

20. Following points should kept in mind while preparing a nursery
bed.
 Seedbed should be located in well-drained soil close to
fresh water sources.
 Soil should preferably be sandy loam.
 Saline soils must be avoided.
 Localities where cattle, dogs, and poultry can cause damage
to the seedlings should be avoided.
 Seedbed must be raised at least 15 cm above the normal
surface of the surrounding soils.
 If more than one bed is prepared in parallel, the distance
between the beds must be at least 1 m.
 Beds should be east-west oriented.

22.  If plastic covers are used they should not be removed
before germination, except for irrigation.
 After germination, the plastic sheets may be removed
from nursery beds on sunny days and replaced at night
when temperature is low.
 Soils, where beds are to be prepared should be
ploughed thoroughly.
 Well decomposed FYM free from plant debris, stones,
pebbles and weed seed should be applied.
 Once the beds are made, they should be top-dressed
with 3-5 cm of well decomposed, well ground, clean
FYM.

23. Bed Sterilization
 In areas where seed or soil-borne diseases like mosaic
are widespread or feared, sterilization of the soil
before sowing becomes imperative.
Two Methods of Seedbed Sterilization
1. By Burning
2. With Chemicals

24. 1. By Burning
 In this method, seedbed is covered with thin branches
of fire wood, maize stalk, dry leaves, or straw.
 Fire is set to them making sure that the fire runs all
along the seedbed for at least two to three minutes.
 This destroys insects, pathogens, weed seed, and
insect eggs.

25. 2. With Chemicals
 Chemical sterilization involves sealing the seedbed
with plastic covers.
 Then applying methyl bromide at the rate of 0.75 kg
per 15000 x 90 cm bed area.
 After the application the beds should be kept sealed
with polythene covers for 24 hours.
 When methyl bromide vaporizes, it is heavier than air
and hence penetrates the soil and kills disease
organisms and weed seeds.

26. Nursery Bed Fertilization
 If the seedlings appear weak and yellow, artificial
fertilizer (NPK) in the ratio of 20:40:40 should be used
at the rate of 2 kg per 1500 x 90 cm bed area.
 It should be applied in solution form along with
irrigation.

27. Seed Rate and Sowing Method
 Normal seed rate is one seedling per one square inch
of area if the seedlings are to be transplanted
manually.
 One seedling per two square in if mechanical
transplantation is intended.
 For manual transplantation there should be 140-150
seedlings per square foot of bed area,
 while in case of mechanical transplantation 70-75
plants should grow in that same area.

28.  For a better plant population, two grams and one gram
seed is enough for 150 square feet bed in case of
manual and mechanical transplantation respectively.
 Seed should preferably be sown in lines with a 2 inch
row to row distance.
 Optimum time for nursery sowing in the plains is from
first week of October to November 15.
 In the hilly areas, the nursery should be sown by
October 15.

29. Seedbed Irrigation
 Once the seed is sown it must be irrigated
immediately.
 Irrigation should be done with a sprinkler in such a
way that the seed on the beds is not dislocated.
 Over irrigation and stagnant water cause algal growth.
 Inadequate irrigation during this process of
germination will prove fatal to the germinating
seedlings.
 Soil surface must be kept moist during seed
germination.

30.  At this stage watering should be done twice in a day;
once in the morning and once in the evening.
 A 150 sq ft seedbed area will require 21-24 gallons (four
or five full sprinklers) of water daily.
 After germination is complete, irrigation should be
controlled in such a way that every 7-10 days,
 The surface of the bed is allowed to remain dry for two
or three days.

31. Seedbed Cover
 Seedbed must be covered with plastic or thatch soon
after they are sown.
 This done to protect them against frost and severe cold
in December and January and to keep seedlings warm.
Hardening
 It is very important to harden the seedlings before they
are transplanted.
 During hardening they should not be watered and
should be kept exposed to direct sun for a period of 7-
10 days.

32. Field preparation for
Transplantation
 Tobacco requires loam or sandy loam soils with good
drainage and medium fertility.
 Field should be prepared by ploughing and pulverizing
the soil twice.
 After ploughing, the field may either be divided into
small plots, or straight and parallel ridges are made on
the leveled surface of the field.
 First method (small plots) is called flat-land
cultivation.
 Second method is called ridge cultivation.

33. Advantages of Ridge Cultivation
 Roots have enough loose area for expansion.
 Water is economized.
 Hoeing and weeding are facilitated.
 Earthing up of plants become easier and thus lodging
is minimized.
 Transplantation is easier with accurate row-to-row and
plant-to-plant distance.

34. Fertilizer Application
 Optimum recommended dose of N is 35 kg/ha.
 Optimum recommended dose of P is 70 kg/ha.
 Optimum recommended dose of K is 70 kg/ha.

35. Transplantation
 Seedlings are ready for plantation at the January when
they attain a height of 10-13 cm and have 5-6 leaves.
 Transplantation should be done in the evening, when
the temperature is low.
 Seedling nursery should be watered immediately
before and after transplantation.
 On sandy loam (light soil) flat-land cultivation is most
suitable.
 On heavy soil ridge cultivation is preferable.

36. Intercultural and Weeding
 Tobacco competes poorly with weeds, particularly in
its early stages.
 Hoeing of the crop is started when the plants are well
established.
 A light hoeing at this stage is done to keep the soil
aerated.
 Subsequent hoeing can be done at interval of 10-15
days.
 In all; three to four hoeing can be done.

37. Topping and Desuckering
 Topping is removal of the terminal bud with or
without some of the small top leaves just before or
after the appearance of the flower head.
 Immediately after topping, the buds in the axils of the
leaves, which otherwise remain dormant, become
active and put forth shoots known as suckers.
 Like flowers, the suckers also become a drain on the
nutrient of the plant, these are also removed.
 Removal of these suckers is called suckering or
desuckering.

38.  With cigarette tobacco, topping and suckering are not
essential but are done in poor soils.
 With Hukkah tobacco, however these operations are
essential for producing thicker leaves.

39. Rotation and Intercropping
 In areas where tobacco has been grown continuously
for a number of years.
 Diseases like black shank, and nematodes develop to a
serious extent and result in considerable loss in yield
and quality.
 Apart from using disease-resistant varieties, much can
be done by following proper crop rotation.
 Selection of a suitable rotation is even more important
for tobacco than for others.

40.  Most common rotations followed in tobacco-growing
areas are:
1. Maize – tobacco - maize
2. Wheat - sugarcane (3 years)- tobacco - maize
3. Maize - tobacco; maize - wheat + sugarcane
4. Sugar beet- sugarcane – (3 years) rotating + ratooning-
cigarette tobacco
 Crops like brinjal, tomato, potato and chillies, which
belong to the tobacco family should neither be
intercropped nor rotated with tobacco.

41. Irrigation
 Tobacco is a leaf crop.
 Its water requirements are greater than those of any
other crop.
 Coarse-textured soils require more frequent irrigation
than fine-textured soils.
 Tobacco fields should not be allowed to remain dry for
very long as this may cause poor growth, premature
flowering and desiccation.

42.  Irrigation is most essential at two stages: at
transplanting and during the period from knee-height
to full bloom.
 First irrigation is given immediately after
transplantation, then
 After the intervals of 7-10 days.
 In all, a tobacco crop needs 8-12 irrigations.

43. Drowning
 Tobacco is more susceptible to damage by flooding
than many other commonly cultivated crops.
 After the fields are flooded, or water remains standing
for 24 hours may cause dying of root and ultimately
wilt or flop.
 Problem may be prevented by good drainage.

44. Harvesting and Curing
 Harvesting is done in May-June.
 Tobacco to be used for hukkah and snuff is harvested
and left in the field to dry for two or three days.
 During this period, it should be turned regularly and
carefully.
 Drying crop should be protected from rain and
windstorm as far as possible to maintain quality leaves.
 After drying, plants should be collected and put in a
safe place either on the floors or in a pit.

45.  A peculiar type of smell produced by bacterial action
will indicate curing.
 After curing, leaves are removed from the stems, made
into bundles or ropes or sacked into jute bags and sold
in the market.
 Thick, dark leaf with a pungent smell and bitter taste
is used for snuff and bidis.
 Heavy bright-colored leaf or rustica tobacco used for
cigarette and hukkah.

46. Insect Pests
 Tobacco is damaged by a number of insect pest.
 Insects attacks start from the nursery and continues up
to the stage of final consumption.
 Following insects damage the tobacco crop:
1. Cutworm(Agrotis spp.)
2. Aphids
3. Budworm

47. Chemical Control
 For the chemical control of these insect pests,
insecticides which have stomach/contact poison
action and relatively long residual effects should be
used.

48. Diseases of Tobacco
 Black Shank
 Root knot nematode
 Orobanche or broom rape
 Tobacco mosaic

49. Control

50. Black Shank
 For soil borne disease
like black shank,
following control
measures are generally
recommended:
 Crop rotation
 Sanitation
 Growing resistant
varieties

51. Root Knot Nematode
 Following control
measures are done:
 Rotate with grain crops
like maize, wheat, millet,
peanut etc.
 Uproot and destroy
infested plants.
 Select resistant verities.
 Control with
nematocides.

52. Orobanche or Broom Rape
 Following
recommendations like:
 Do not plant tobacco,
potato, tomato or brinjal in
infested fields.
 Uprooting of such plants
weekly preferably before
seed setting.
 Deep ploughing before and
after tobacco cultivation.
 Field sprayed with
chemicals like 2,4-D.

53. Tobacco Mosaic (Virus Disease)
 To control this disease
sanitation measures are
imperative.
 Avoid planted tobacco in
fields growing potato,
chillies or tomato.
 Green aphid serve as
vectors for this virus, so
aphid-controlling
pesticides should be
used.

54. Varieties
 Rustica-8
 Rustica-9
 Coker-25
 Speight G-28
 Naki, Gobi, Niswari,
 Calcutta
 Sindhi Bubaki
 Sindhi karo

55. Types of Tobacco
 Fire-cured: used for snuff and chewing tobacco.
 Dark Air Cure: used for chewing tobacco.
 Air-cured (Maryland) Tobacco: used for cigarettes.
 Air Cured Cigar Tobacco: used for cigar wrappers and
fillers.
 Flue-cured: used for cigarette, pipe and chewing
tobacco.
 Burley (Air-cured): used for cigarette, pipe and
chewing tobacco.

56. Economic Importance
 Tobacco is now an important cash crop of Pakistan and
brings in a considerable amount of foreign exchange.
 Also a source of employment for thousands of people
who are involved with
 Producing
 Curing
 Marketing
 Cigarette manufacturing
 Next to sugarcane, tobacco is the most important cash
crop in irrigated areas of KPK.

57.  In Punjab, cigarette tobacco is gaining popularity with
the farmers.
 But in Sindh, it has not yet received much
encouragement and is grown on a limited area in
Tandojam, Tharparker, and Dadu.
 PTB was established in 1968.
 Board set up research stations at Mardan, Mansehra,
Gujrat, Okara, and Sahiwal with a zonal office at
Lahore and head office in Peshawar.
 Main focus of this board is to conduct research, solve
local problems, and convey information to growers.
 Board is also exploring new external markets for leaf
and cigarette manufactured in Pakistan.

58.  As far as the world situation is concerned, tobacco is
used by millions of the people all over the world in
 Cigarette
 Cigars
 Pipes
 Bidis
 Chewing tobacco
 Snuff
 Hukkah tobacco.
 Production is 30 mounds/acre.
 Area under cultivation is 49 ha and the production
noted as 13o tonnes.

59. Medicinal Uses
 As early as, American Indians began using tobacco in
many different ways, such as religious and medicinal
practices.
 Tobacco was believed to be a cure-all and was used to
dress wounds, as well as a pain killer.
 Chewing tobacco was believed to relieve the pain of a
toothache.
 It is used as a sedative. Diuretic, expectorant, and
internally only as an emetic, when all other emetics
fail.

60.  The smoke injected into the rectum is beneficial
against strangulated hernia, for obstinate constipation
and also in tetanus.
 A cataplasm of the leaves may be used as ointment for
cutaneous diseases.
 The leaves of tobacco combination with the leaves of
belladonna make an excellent application of obstinate
ulcers, painful tremors.
 Tobacco leaf juice cures facial neuralgia if rubbed
along the tracks of the affected nerve.
 Externally nicotine is an antiseptic.
 Tobacco in the form of an enema of the leaves was
used to relax muscular spasms, to facilitate the
reduction of dislocation.

61.  A pipe smoked after breakfast assists the action of the
bowels.
 An infusion of tobacco is generally used in horticulture
as an insecticide.
 Skin Rashes, Eczema and rheumatism- tobacco
leaves put on skin inflammation to help soothe and
relieve pain.
 Rattlesnake and Insect Bites- nicotine in the
tobacco would help to relieve pain as well as help draw
out the poison and heal the snake wound. After the
poison had been sucked out, chewed leaves could be
applied to cuts or bound on the bite with a bandage.
 Smoked leaves clear out nasal passages.

62. Any Question???