Key Points and Methods of Flue-cured Tobacco Cultivation Explained

Tobacco is a warmth-loving plant, and during the mid-growth stage the field humidity is best kept at around 70 to 80 percent. Red loam soil is the best for the planting site. Sowing is generally done around the middle of February each year, and heat preservation measures should be taken at the same time. Planting is best done early when the time is right. Tobacco cultivation is mainly based on basal fertilizer. Tobacco leaves are generally harvested when the leaves are mature, which is usually shown by the leaf surface changing from green to yellow-green.

1. Planting Environment

Tobacco has relatively high requirements for the planting environment. It is a warmth-loving plant, and the average temperature of the planting site is generally between 10 and 38 degrees, while the most suitable temperature for tobacco growth is between 25 and 30 degrees. The mid-growth stage of tobacco requires the most water, and the field humidity is best kept at around 70 to 80 percent. In addition, its growth requires sufficient sunlight, and the daily sunlight duration is best kept at around 8 to 10 hours. Red loam soil is the best tobacco planting soil, followed by red-yellow soil, sandy soil, etc., among which black loam soil is generally not suitable for planting tobacco.

2. Seedling Management

Before sowing, the tobacco seeds need to be placed in the sun to dry for two to three days, which can increase the germination rate of the seeds. Tobacco seedling raising generally uses a double-layer film paper tube seedling technique, so that the tobacco seedlings cultivated are stronger. Next, the nutrient soil for seedling raising also needs to be prepared, generally by evenly mixing 60 percent field soil and 40 percent livestock manure, and an appropriate amount of compound fertilizer also needs to be added. Sowing is generally done around the middle of February each year, and heat preservation measures should be taken at the same time.

3. Transplanting Seedlings

Tobacco is best planted early when the time is right, as tobacco planted this way is of higher quality. When transplanting, generally about 1,000 to 1,300 plants can be planted per mu, and at this density the tobacco can carry out sufficient photosynthesis. At the same time, field operations are also more convenient. When planting tobacco, plastic film should be used as mulch, which not only plays a role in preserving heat and moisture, but can also improve the tobacco's resistance to drought and waterlogging. After the temperature rises, the plastic film needs to be cut open to prevent water loss.

4. Field Management

There is a certain contradiction between the yield and quality of tobacco cultivation. Generally, the higher the yield, the worse the quality, but low yield does not mean high quality, so field management becomes very important. Tobacco cultivation is mainly based on basal fertilizer, and the basal fertilizer must be applied in sufficient amount, using a balanced fertilization method, with nitrogen fertilizer mainly used in the early stage, combined with phosphorus fertilizer and potassium fertilizer. If a fertilizer deficiency occurs in the middle and late stages of tobacco growth, then fertilization needs to be done by foliar spraying. At the same time, attention should also be paid to drainage and waterlogging prevention, as well as intertillage and weed control and loosening and hilling the soil, to enhance the permeability of the field. Finally, topping should be carried out at the right time, which is the main way to improve tobacco quality.

5. Harvesting and Processing

The harvesting and processing of tobacco is the key to producing high-quality tobacco. Tobacco leaves are generally harvested when the leaves are mature, which is usually shown by the leaf surface changing from green to yellow-green. They must not be harvested too early or too late, otherwise the quality of the cured tobacco will be greatly reduced.