Govt issues tips on tobacco transplanting

Edgar Vhera

Agriculture Specialist Writer

Two weeks into the planting of irrigated tobacco for the new season, the Government has issued tips on successfully transplanting the crop to achieve the potential yield of 4,5 tonnes per hectare.

Planting of the irrigated tobacco started on September 1, with that of dryland expected later in October once rains have started falling.

In an X post, the Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS) said growers should conduct good agronomic practices from the nursery.

“Ensure your seedlings are well hardened and have reached target growth stage. Water to field capacity the day before pulling when using the conventional seedbeds to minimise root damage during pulling,” read the post.

Growers should construct a shade for temporarily storing seedlings and apply a fungicide a day before pulling to ensure healthy seedlings are transplanted into the field using the first-in first-out principle, added the post.

Another ARDAS X post read: “Before planting tobacco the land ought to be properly prepared through ploughing, discing, ridging and digging of planting holes. On planting, the seedlings should be placed on the centre of the planting hole straight down and not layered in the soil. This will ensure that the roots are placed in a zone of soil that will not dry out completely, even when rain is delayed for seven to eight weeks.”

Discing is done to break soil clods into fine tilth to enhance uniform ground therefore allowing equal distribution of water.

Farmers are advised to ensure that the ridges are standard, 30cm in height and a flat top 20cm wide, spaced 1,2m or more. The flat top will enable infiltration of early rains or irrigation.