Tobacco Asia

58 tobaccoasia Issue 2, 2026 March / April lifecycles, particularly aphids that transmit viral diseases. Irrigated crops begin in September, supplementary irrigated crops in October, and rain-fed crops in November. Field preparation: breaking disease cycles Destroying old stalks and regrowth is critical to preventing pest and disease carryover. In India, farmers incorporate stalks into the soil within 15 days of harvest using rotovators, followed by deep summer ploughing to expose sub- soil to the sun. "This kills weed seeds and breaks pathogen cycles," pointed out Rao. Zimbabwean farmers have adopted similar practices. The Alliance One agronomy managers stressed immediate destruction and incorporation of stalks, while Graham Ross noted that legislation prohibits living tobacco plants after May 15, ensuring no regrowth remains in the fields. Spacing and planting depth: precision in the field Plant spacing is a delicate balance between maximizing yield and prevent- ing disease. Godfrey Phillipps' Prabhakara Rao described densities of 20,000- 25,000 plants per hectare, carefully calculated to allow sunlight penetration and reduce leaf contact. "This greatly avoids spread of contact disease like leaf curl and tobacco mosaic virus," he explained. Seedlings are transplanted to the collar region to withstand heat and resist lodging. Sheppard and Rankin recommended 15,000 plants per hectare, with spacing of 1.2 meters by 0.55 meters. "Seedlings should be planted so that only the heart remains above ground level," they noted. ZTA's Graham Ross outlined a tram line layout, with wide rows for reapers and inter-plant spacing of 54-57 cm. "Plants must be set as deep as possible below the soil surface to prevent goose-necking," he told Tobacco Asia, which ensures that seedlings remain upright and resilient. Moisture management: water as a lifeline Water management during transplanting is vital. In India's rain-shadow re- gions, farmers apply 400-500 ml of water per planting spot under rain-fed conditions, while irrigated fields are shallow-flood- ed during transplanting, Rao said. Zimbabwean farmers practice a more structured approach. The 2 agronomists of Alliance One Mashonaland rec- ommended pre-irrigation to achieve field capacity, followed by settling-in irrigation of 15 mm. Rain- fed areas require more planting water per station. Graham Ross, meanwhile, emphasized planting into standing water. "Saplings must be planted into standing water which will drain away, elimi- nating air pockets around the roots," he said. This ensures strong root-to-soil contact and reduces transplant shock. Pest pressure in India is relatively low due to dry conditions. "No farmer takes up Certified Pest Applicators at the time of transplantation," Rao noted, with chemical applications used sparingly and only in consultation with agronomy teams. Zimbabwean farmers, however, adopt rigorous in- tegrated pest management. Sheppard and Rankin described treating seedlings with fungicides, ne- maticides, and insecticides before transplanting, followed by copper sprays and CORESTA-ap- proved chemicals. "Planting water may include aphicide, insecticide, fungicide, and nematicide," the two agronomy managers explained. Graham Ross highlighted the use of imidacloprid in planting water to control soil pests and aphids, followed by pyrethroid drenches to prevent cutworm damage. Dry mulching immediately after planting further protects seedlings. Nutrient management: feeding the young crop Fertilizer application is carefully timed. In In- dia, a basal dose of N:P:K fertilizer is brought out at 200kg/ha within 7-10 days of transplant- ing. This is followed by 2 side dresses of 50kg/ ha each, whereas the fertilization schedule must complete before 40 days have lapsed after trans- planting. In Zimbabwe, the focus is on low nitro- gen in seedbeds, with compound fertilizer applied mechanically in double bands below ridge height. Phosphate availability at transplanting also is em- phasized, achieved by banding basal fertilizer in ridges or applying directly at planting. Despite advances in mechanization, transplant- ing remains largely manual. In India, machine trans- planting trials have not succeeded due to cost and inefficiency, according to Prabhakara Rao. "Manual labor plays an important and major role in transplan- tation activity," he said, with workers trained to plant at the collar region and maintain spacing. Zimbabwean farmers likewise rely entirely on manual skill. Saplings are carefully hand plant- ing with trowels, while emphasis is put on hygiene, consistency, uniform tools, and strict supervision. "We aim to plant at the front of each plant station to achieve uniform spacing," divulged ZTA presi- dent Graham Ross. Graham Ross, president of the Zimbabwe Tobacco Association. Credit: ZTA

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