Original scientific paper

INFLUENCE OF TOPPING HEIGHTS AND RIPENESS ON AGRONOMIC TRAITS OF FLUE-CURED TOBACCO CULTIVARS FROM THE LOWER AND UPPER STALK POSITION

Miroslav Čavlek ; Duhanski institut Zagreb, d.d. Zagreb, Hrvatska
Kristina Gršić ; Duhanski institut Zagreb, d.d. Zagreb, Hrvatska
Jasminka Butorac ; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska

Abstract

The influence of topping heights and ripeness of leaf at harvest on the agronomic traits of Virginia tobacco cultivars was studied during 2004-2005 and in 2007. For this purpose, research in the main tobacco cultivation area in Croatia was organised, the split-split plot method being employed. The factors examined in the field trial were: (1) topping height (20 and 17 leaves for harvest), (2) the ripeness of the leaf at the time of harvest (unripe, ripe and overripe) and (3) cultivar (HVT 1, VJ 1, DH 17). Topping at 20 leaves for harvest resulted in greater average yields, price per kilogram and value per hectare of tobacco leaves of upper primings as compared with lower topping height. With respect to the ripeness of the leaves at the moment of harvesting, results of the investigation show a general trend towards greater yields of leaves in the lower position on the stalk with harvest in the stage of optimum ripeness and from upper stalk position in a slightly unripe stage. The same trend was determined for the price of tobacco, with the exception of upper primings in a year characterised by very small precipitation in the vigorous growth and early ripening period. That year every delay of
harvesting increased the price. The considerable interaction between year, cultivar and ripeness of leaf at time of harvest with respect to value per hectare and the interaction between year, cultivar and topping height for price per kilogram suggest the dependence of agronomic traits of cultivars on the production conditions during the stage of vigorous growth and maturation, height of topping and ripeness of leaf at harvest.

Keywords

ripeness; topping height; cultivar; Flue-cured tobacco; agronomic traits

Hrčak ID:

73916

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/73916

Publication date:

28.10.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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