Tobacco reclamation after hail damage

Abstract

In trials at the Inglewood Research Station in the 1961-2 and 1962-3 seasons, hail damage was simulated by stripping all the leaves from tobacco plants 7, 8 or 9 weeks after transplanting and then cutting the stalk to a height of 6 or 12 in. above ground level. Plants received a basal fertilizer dressing of 500 Ib tobacco fertilizer 220 (NPK ratio 2: 11-4: 20)/ac and a side-dressing of 0 or 6 Ib N + 50 Ib K2O/ac at the time of cutting. Percentage trash increased and leaf quality and nicotine content fell with increase in time between transplanting and cutting of damaged stalks. Plants cut to 6 in. yielded a total of 1616 Ib/ac compared with 1438 Ib/ac from those cut to 12 in.-F.A.S.