Sarhad J. Agric. Vol.24, No.

2, 2008

YIELD AND QUALITY OF FLUE-CURED VIRGINIA TOBACCO, NICOTIANA TOBACUM L. AS AFFECTED BY DIFFERENT LEVELS OF FICO-MICRON AND BORON
Zafar Hayat Khan*, Hameed Gul**, Habib Akber*, Khalid Khan***, Mohammad Yasir Khan****, Ikramullah**** and Farooq Shah* ABSTRACT
Experiments on the Yield and quality of Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco (Nicotiana tobacum L.) as affected by different levels of fico-micron and boron were conducted at Tobacco Research Station, Khan Ghari, Mardan (Pakistan) during 19981999. The experiments were set up in a randomized complete block (RCB) design with three replications. Commercially available fico-micron (21.45% Zn, 25.69% Fe, 23.001% Mg and (29.4885%) Cu at rates of 0, 40, and 45 kg ha-1, along with Boron (B) at rates of 0, 5 and 10 kg ha-1 were applied after seven days of transplantation. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that different micronutrient levels significantly affected leaf area, green and cured yield, while grade index, nicotine and reducing sugar percentages were not affected significantly. Maximum leaf area and cured yield were recorded when plants were treated with fico-micron and B at the level of 40:10 kg ha-1. Maximum green leaf yield was obtained by applying fico-micron and B at the rates of 45:10 kg ha-1. Highest grade index was observed in plots treated with fico-micron and B at the rate of 40:0 kg ha-1. Maximum reducing sugar was recorded when plants were treated with 0:10 kg ha-1 dose of fico-micron and B, while maximum nicotine percentage was recorded for 40:10 kg ha-1 dose of fico-micron and B. As a whole, 40:10 kg ha-1 doses of fico-micron and B indicated its clear superiority over the other levels. Key words: FCV tobacco, Micronutrients, Quality, Yield, Mardan.

INTRODUCTION Pakistan is an agricultural country and majority of the people drive their livelihood from agriculture. From the point of view of the domestic consumption, employment, revenue and foreign exchange earnings, tobacco is an important cash crop grown in the country. The economic significance of tobacco as a cash crop can be gauged from the fact that about 30 percent of the Federal Government revenue receipts from the central excise duty are derived from this source. Another notable feature is that per hectare gross value out put of tobacco crop is on the higher side as compared to other crops in the country. The total production of tobacco depends on varying requirements of tobacco industry from year to year depending on the cigarette sales and its end-uses in different forms. Tobacco was grown on about 0.056 consisted of just two million hectares with total production of 0.113 million tons and average yield of 1996 kg ha-1 during 2005-2006, in Pakistan. While in NWFP, the total area under tobacco cultivation is 0.037 million hectares with production of 0.088 million tons (MINFAL, 2006). This crop possesses considerable economic significance, and its impact on the fiscal and monetary policies of major producing, exporting/importing countries is quite pronounced. In Pakistan, although tobacco cultivation occupies a * ** *** ****

relatively small area (0.27%) of the total irrigated land in the country, it is of great economic value as a source of revenue, employment and foreign exchange earnings to the country. During 2004-2005, above Rupees 28 billion (approx. 446 million USD) were contributed to the Federal Exchequer as Central Excise Duty and Sales Tax. Being a highly laborintensive crop, about eighty thousand persons are involved in tobacco's cultivation, fifty thousands are engaged in 26 factories of the tobacco industry and another one million find indirect employment. It is also an important source of foreign exchange earnings for the country (US$ 11.61 million during 2004-2005). Had the production of tobacco crop not been developed by the Pakistan Tobacco Board on scientific lines, the country would have been importing raw material worth Rupees 7-8 billion (approx. 111- 127 million USD) per annum (Pakistan Tobacco Board, 2007). Optimum fertilizer application is very important for getting high yield and quality of tobacco. Alles et al. (1983) reported significant increase in leaf yield of flue-cured tobacco with increase in fertilizer application (mixture of N, P2O5 and MgO). Maximum percentage of top quality leaves was obtained at a higher dose of Cu fertilization (Hoppe, 1988). Gul (1989) concluded that deficiency of B resulted in extreme turgidity and breakage of the

Department of Agronomy, NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar Pakistan. Tobacco Research Station, Khan Ghari, Mardan Pakistan. Institute of Development Studies, NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar Pakistan. Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar Pakistan.

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midribs of the leaves. Baber et al. (1987) mentioned that Zn and B application increased the yield of Fluecured Virginia (FCV) tobacco, while Cu fertilization increased the potash and sugar contents of tobacco. Hu and Brown (1994) concluded that B deficiency results in a rapid inhibition of plant growth. They also reported that B deficiency impaired normal cell elongation in growing plant tissues. According to them Zn and B fertilizers increased nitrate reductase activity in leaves. Khattak and Parveen (1986) reported that 98, 3, 46 and 23 percent soils of NWFP are deficient in B, Cu, Fe and Zn, respectively. Shorrocks (1984) reviewed the most important micronutrients, and stated that huge areas of otherwise fertile land can be made altogether useless for cropping by the absence of a few grams per hectare of essential micronutrients, and that they can be the key to successful production of many crops. Micronutrients play a vital role in plant nutrition, and are essential for various enzymatic reactions and metabolic processes. Micronutrients availability is with various changes occurring in the soils. Majority of our soils are generally light to medium textured, high in pH, low in organic matter, deficient in nitrogen and phosphorus, calcareous to varying degrees, where micronutrients may form insoluble compounds and become unavailable to the plants. Moreover high application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, introduction of high yielding varieties and intensive crop production system may also induce the deficiencies of micronutrients. Due to these facts, the micronutrients have become of widespread concern during recent years. Therefore, this study was initiated to investigate the effect of some micronutrients on the yield and quality of FCV tobacco in North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. MATERIALS AND METHODS Experiments were carried out at Tobacco Research Station, Khan Ghari, Mardan (NWFP), Pakistan, during 1998-1999. Chemical characteristics of the soil in the experimental area are presented in Table I. Commercially available fico-micron (21.45% Zn, 25.69% Fe, 23.001% Mg and 29.4885 Cu) at rates of 0, 40 and 45 kg ha-1 along with boron at rates of 0, 5, and 10 kg ha-1 were applied to the field. The following treatment combinations were used: The experiment was set up in randomized complete block (RCB) design with three replications. Each plot area was 16.2 m2 having 30 plants. Row to row spacing of 90 cm and plant-to-plant spacing of 60 cm were kept. Nursery of tobacco variety Speight G-28 was sown in the third week of December on raised

beds under polythene sheets. After germination, weeding and thinning were followed during months of January to March. The nursery was kept open to the sun light during daytime, and covered during night to protect from frost. Watering was done twice a day by sprinkler. The seedlings were transplanted to field in the 2nd week of March. The seedlings were planted on the tops of ridges. NPK compound fertilizer at rates of 40-80-80 kg ha-1 of nitrogen, P2O5 and K2O, respectively, along with micronutrients were applied within seven days of transplantation. Standard agronomic practices were followed throughout the growing season. Leaf length and breadth of the 5th, 10th and 15th leaves were measured in cm from each plant of each treatment. The leaf area of the 5th leaf was measured before first picking, while the 10th and 15th leafs area was measured at the 4th and 7th picking. Average was worked out at the end to calculate leaf area (cm2) for each treatment. At maturity leaf picking started during the 2nd week of June up to August in seven pickings and cured in the barns. Green leaf yield of each treatment was taken just after each picking. The total green leaf yield was calculated by the formula: Green leaf yield (kg ha-1) = Green wt. plot-1 (kg) x 10000 m2 16.2 m2 After curing in barn cured, the weight was recorded. Cured leaf yield was calculated for each treatment as: Cured leaf yield (kg ha-1) = Cured wt plot-1 (kg) x 10000 m2 16.2 m2 Grade index is the percentage of top grades. This data was calculated after curing. To measure grade index, about 100 kg of bulk-cured yield was taken and percentage of Pak-1, Pak-2, Pak-3, Pak-7 and Pak-9 were measured directly. The criteria for selection or rejection are color, elasticity, moisture contents and proper ripeness. Cured leaf samples were then collected for chemical analysis. Nicotine was determined by using perchloric acid solution in glacial acetic acid as described by Cundiff and Markunas (1964). Reducing sugar was determined in accordance with the method of Lane and Eynon, as described by Pearson (1962). Statistical analysis was performed as suggested by Steel and Torrie (1980) and treatment means were compared with LSD test. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Leaf area Data presented in Table III revealed that different levels of fico-micron and boron significantly affected leaf area of tobacco. Maximum leaf area was

Sarhad J. Agric. Vol.24, No.2, 2008 obtained with combined application of 40 kg ha-1 fico-micron and 10 kg ha-1 boron, while minimum leaf area was obtained from application of only 5 kg ha-1 of boron. Baber et al. (1985) and Baseer and Gul (1998) reported similar results. They reported that Zn, Cu, Fe, B and Mg improved the texture of leaf. These findings are also in line with the results obtained by Hu and Brown (1994), who reported that B is essential for improvement of leaf texture, and leaf area is mostly related with B, which has been found in large quantities in meristematic tissues such as leaf tip, root tip and buds. Table III also shows decrease of leaf area at higher (45 kg ha-1) dose of fico-micron, from which we may infer that 40 kg ha-1 is the optimum dose for having maximum leaf area in tobacco. Green leaf yield (kg ha-1) Different levels of fico-micron and boron significantly affected green leaf yield (Table III). Maximum green leaf yield was obtained by applying fico-micron and boron at the rate of 45:10 kg ha-1, while minimum values were recorded for control plots. These results are logical, given that B is an essential element for the development and growth of plants and that it is determinant in such fundamental processes as cell elongation and division or nucleic acid metabolism (Shelp, 1993). Lopez-Lefebre et al. (2002) reported that macronutrients N, P, K, and Na responded positively to the dosage of B, notably increasing in their concentration in roots and leaves. Cured leaf yield (kg ha-1) Different levels of fico-micron and boron significantly affected cured leaf yield (Table IV). Maximum cured leaf yield was obtained by applying fico-micron and boron at the rate of 40:10 kg ha-1, while minimum values were recorded for control plots. The high yield may be due to more photosynthesis; respiration and growth resulted due to application of micronutrients. Magnesium considerably increases dry matter yield of leaves (Tobacco: Nutrient management, 2000). This increase may be due to positive effect of B application exerted on dry-material production and could be explained by the general improvement in the nutritional state, particularly of the essential macronutrients N, P and K (Lopez-Lefebre et al., 2002). These results are in conformity with Lin and Deng (1992), who reported that application of Mg, Zn, or B fertilizers at transplanting and by two foliar applications in the growing season increased leaves chlorophyll

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concentration, photosynthesis and yield of cured leaves. Grade index Fico-micron and boron showed no significant effect on grade index (Table IV). Highest grade index value was, however, obtained when plants were treated with 40:10 kg ha-1 fico-micron and boron, while lowest values were recorded with 45:10 kg ha-1. Higher dose of Cu in fico-micron might have produced top quality leaves. These results are in conformity with the results of Hoppe (1988). These results are also supported by Hui et al. (2005), who reported that application of B in base fertilizer could increase leaf grade. Nicotine percentage Fico-micron and boron had no significant effect on nicotine percentage as evident from Table V. Maximum nicotine content was determined when fico-micron and boron were applied at the rates of 40:10 kg ha-1, while minimum nicotine percentage was observed in plots given only 5 kg ha-1 of boron. These results are supported by Lin and Deng (1992), who reported increased nicotine concentration in tobacco leaves due to Zn, Mg and B application. But these results are in contrast with Hui et al. (2005), who reported increase in nicotine content with adding boron in base fertilizer. Reducing sugar percentage Different levels of fico-micron and boron showed no significant effect on reducing sugar percentage. Table V revealed that maximum reducing sugar was recorded with 10 kg ha-1 of only boron, while minimum values were obtained when plants were treated with fico-micron and boron at the levels of 45 and 10 kg ha-1, respectively. These results are in contrast with Baseer and Gul (1998), who reported that Mg and Cu increased sugar content of tobacco. While Hui et al. (2005) reported that B application could lower sugar content. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION It can be concluded from this study that along macronutrients, micronutrients also have significant effect on yield and quality of FCV tobacco. Among treatments, fico-micron and boron at the rate of 40:10 kg ha-1 gave maximum leaf area and cured leaf yield. More research is recommended to confirm the effects of these micronutrients on the yield and quality of tobacco.

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Table I

Chemical characteristics of the soil in the experimental area

Silt loam 7.7 0.40 0.07 8.60 115 Depth (Cm) = 0-15 B (mg g-1) Mg (mg kg-1) Zn (mg g-1) Cu (mg g-1) Fe (mg g-1) ----------------0.30 6.80 1.10 1.65 12.70 ---------------

Textural class PH E.C (ds m-1) N% Available P (mg kg-1) Available K (mg kg-1)

Table II

Treatment combinations of Fico-micron and Boron

Treatment T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 T9 Fico-micron levels (Kg ha-1) 0 0 0 40 40 40 45 45 45 Boron levels (Kg ha-1) 0 5 10 0 5 10 0 5 10

Table III.

Leaf area and green leaf yield of tobacco as affected by different levels of fico-micron and boron.
Treatment (Kg ha-1) Leaf area (cm2) Boron 0 5 10 0 5 10 0 5 10 47.6 587.0 ef 582.3 f 631.7 cde 640.7 bcd 680.7 ab 690.3 a 674.7 abc 655.3 abcd 625.0 def 215.5 Green leaf yield (Kg ha-1) 14380 e 15660 cde 16580 cd 15170 de 17440 bc 19530 ab 16520 cde 17690 bc 21060 a

Fico-micron 0 0 0 40 40 40 45 45 45 LSD value at P=0.05

Means followed by different letters within the same column are significant different at 5 % probability level. Table IV. Cured leaf weight and grade index of tobacco as affected by different levels of fico-micron and boron.
Treatment (Kg ha-1) Fico-micron 0 0 0 40 40 40 45 45 45 LSD value at P=0.05 Boron 0 5 10 0 5 10 0 5 10 282.4 Cured leaf yield (Kg ha ) 2368 c 2562 bc 2623 bc 2554 bc 2799 ab 2948 a 2608 bc 2824 ab 2923 ab NS 69.3 69.7 68.3 71.0 69.3 66.7 68.3 68.3 62.3
-1

Grade index (%)

Means followed by different letters within the same column are significant different at 5 % probability level. NS= Non-significant

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Table V

Nicotine and reducing sugar contents of tobacco as affected by different levels of fico-micron and boron.
Treatment (kg ha-1) Fico-micron 0 0 0 40 40 40 45 45 45 Boron 0 5 10 0 5 10 0 5 10 NS % Nicotine 2.00 1.96 2.19 2.25 2.13 2.24 2.14 2.05 2.15 NS % Reducing sugar 13.78 14.54 14.85 14.31 14.41 14.66 13.85 14.03 13.64

NS= Non-significant REFRENCES

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