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Optimizing Tobacco Yield and Quality Through Topping Techniques

Learn the historical perspective, physiological aspects, and yield trends of topping tobacco plants. Timing, effects on plant, yield trends, and disease incidence are discussed, along with labor comparisons and effects on leaf yield. Discover the impact of topping time on leaf yield and harvesting for improved maturity.

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Optimizing Tobacco Yield and Quality Through Topping Techniques

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Topping

  2. Why does a plant have leaves? • As a store for seed production

  3. Historical Perspective • Late topping/ full bloom • Past Demand • Lighter bodied style of tobacco • Milder taste • Non-filtered • Sucker control • Hand removal • No chemical control

  4. Physiological Aspect of Topping • Leaf Spread • Removal of non-beneficial nutrient sink • Root stimulation

  5. Timing • Best when 10-25% of plants have one flower open • Effects on plant • Darker cured leaf color • Prior to physiological maturity • Prior to stalk hardening • Increases root development • More leaf expansion in lower part of plant

  6. Yield Trends • Bud Topping • Yield loss in many varieties • Good for late maturing varieties • 10-25% • Best for most varieties • Good quality • 50-75% • Suckers initiated in some varieties • 100%+ • Yield decline • Sucker initiation in all varieties • Opportunistic diseases • Senescence

  7. Disease Incidence • Hollow Stalk • Late Top • Harden Stalk • Ragged Top

  8. Effects of Topping Time on Yield 12 trials over 10 years

  9. Topping Height • Root system • Supports a finite leaf yield • Leaf number • 20 leaves • Larger leaves • Yield • Highest sometimes • 26 leaves • Smaller leaves • Yield • No different most times

  10. Effects of Topping Time on Yield 17 trials over 9 years

  11. Effects of Topping Time on Leaf Yield 17 trials over 9 years

  12. Topping Study Labor ComparisonsLawrence Co. – Malcom Smith Farm

  13. Topping Study Labor ComparisonsLawrence Co. – Malcom Smith Farm

  14. On a Larger Scale • 6 leaves per plant • 42,000 per acre • Based on7000 population • 420,000 • Based on 10 acres • 1,035,000 • Based on 24 acres

  15. Maturity • Approximately 4 weeks after topping • Influenced by residual N • Signs • White stem & stalk • Leaf cracks when bent • Bronzing of leaves

  16. Harvesting • Timing • Yield • Increase to 4- 5 wks after topping • Decrease after 5 wks after topping • Quality • High early increase slightly to 3 wks after topping • Decline after 3 wks

  17. Effects of Harvest Date on Yield and Quality

  18. Harvest Date Across Five Locations HSD 0.05 = 74 168 55 201 Locations = Bath, Boyle, Clay, Jackson & Pulaski

  19. Effects of HarvestTime on QualityJackson Co. - Harry Nicholson Farm HSD 0.05 = 1.74 1.99 1.95 1.59 6 = Usable Tobacco, 4 to 5 = Marginal, 4 = Non-usable, 3 was described as high color, undesirable, tight faced & immature

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