Impact of integrated agro-technologies on the weeds and cured leaf yield of tobacco (Nicotiana tabaccum) in Southern India

Field experiment was conducted during 2018–19 and 2019–20 at ICAR-National Institute for Research on Commercial Agriculture, Research Station Farm, Vedasandur to find out the effect of integrated agro technologies on the weeds including orobanche, yield and quality of chewing tobacco. The treatments comprised of main plots, viz. soil solarization and non-soil solarization and sub plots, viz. traditional nursery seedlings + furrow irrigation +100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), traditional nursery seedlings + alternate furrow irrigation + 100% RDF, tray seedlings + furrow irrigation +100% RDF, tray seedlings + alternate furrow irrigation + 100% RDF, tray seedlings + alternate furrow irrigation + 80% RDN+100% RD of P&K. The experiment was conducted in a split plot design with 3 replications. Soil solarization reduced the monocot weed population by 30 to 39% over the non-soil solarization. The dry weight of monocot significantly reduced by 50 and 30% with 40 DAT and at harvest stage respectively with soil solarization as compared to non-soil solarization. Soil solarization significantly reduced the dry weight of dicot weeds by 78 and 91 % at 40 DAT and at harvest respectively over non-soil solarization. Soil solarization significantly reduced the dry weight of orobanche by 77 and 41% at 60 DAT and at harvest stage over non-soil solarization. It could be concluded that soil solarization efficiently reduced the monocot and dicot weeds including Orabanche. Tray seedlings planting + 100% RDF + furrow irrigation increased the cured leaf yield and net returns. The chewing quality was also found to be preferable. Tray seedlings planted + furrow irrigation + 100% RDF increased the net return by 18% over traditional nursery seedlings planted + furrow irrigation + 100% RDF. Though the net returns with respect to soil solarization was low, continuous soil solarization for 2 to 3 years could reduce the weed infestation which may increase cured leaf yield and net returns.