Sarhad J. Agric. Vol.24, No.

2, 2008

YIELD AND QUALITY OF FLUE-CURED VIRGINIA TOBACCO,

NICOTIANA TOBACUM L. AS AFFECTED BY DIFFERENT
LEVELS OF FICO-MICRON AND BORON
Zafar Hayat Khan*, Hameed Gul**, Habib Akber*, Khalid Khan***,
Mohammad Yasir Khan****, Ikramullah**** and Farooq Shah*

ABSTRACT
Experiments on the “Yield and quality of Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco (Nicotiana tobacum L.) as affected by different
levels of fico-micron and boron” were conducted at Tobacco Research Station, Khan Ghari, Mardan (Pakistan) during 1998-
1999. The experiments were set up in a randomized complete block (RCB) design with three replications. Commercially
available fico-micron (21.45% Zn, 25.69% Fe, 23.001% Mg and (29.4885%) Cu at rates of 0, 40, and 45 kg ha-1, along with
Boron (B) at rates of 0, 5 and 10 kg ha-1 were applied after seven days of transplantation. Statistical analysis of the data revealed
that different micronutrient levels significantly affected leaf area, green and cured yield, while grade index, nicotine and reducing
sugar percentages were not affected significantly. Maximum leaf area and cured yield were recorded when plants were treated
with fico-micron and B at the level of 40:10 kg ha-1. Maximum green leaf yield was obtained by applying fico-micron and B at
the rates of 45:10 kg ha-1. Highest grade index was observed in plots treated with fico-micron and B at the rate of 40:0 kg ha-1.
Maximum reducing sugar was recorded when plants were treated with 0:10 kg ha-1 dose of fico-micron and B, while maximum
nicotine percentage was recorded for 40:10 kg ha-1 dose of fico-micron and B. As a whole, 40:10 kg ha-1 doses of fico-micron
and B indicated its clear superiority over the other levels.

Key words: FCV tobacco, Micronutrients, Quality, Yield, Mardan.

INTRODUCTION
Pakistan is an agricultural country and majority of the
people drive their livelihood from agriculture. From
the point of view of the domestic consumption,
employment, revenue and foreign exchange earnings,
tobacco is an important cash crop grown in the
country. The economic significance of tobacco as a
cash crop can be gauged from the fact that about 30
percent of the Federal Government revenue receipts
from the central excise duty are derived from this
source. Another notable feature is that per hectare
gross value out put of tobacco crop is on the higher
side as compared to other crops in the country.
The total production of tobacco depends on varying
requirements of tobacco industry from year to year
depending on the cigarette sales and its end-uses in
different forms. Tobacco was grown on about 0.056
consisted of just two million hectares with total
production of 0.113 million tons and average yield of
1996 kg ha-1 during 2005-2006, in Pakistan. While in
NWFP, the total area under tobacco cultivation is
0.037 million hectares with production of 0.088
million tons (MINFAL, 2006).
This crop possesses considerable economic
significance, and its impact on the fiscal and
monetary policies of major producing,
exporting/importing countries is quite pronounced. In
Pakistan, although tobacco cultivation occupies a
relatively small area (0.27%) of the total irrigated
land in the country, it is of great economic value as a
source of revenue, employment and foreign exchange
earnings to the country. During 2004-2005, above
Rupees 28 billion (approx. 446 million USD) were
contributed to the Federal Exchequer as Central
Excise Duty and Sales Tax. Being a highly labor-
intensive crop, about eighty thousand persons are
involved in tobacco's cultivation, fifty thousands are
engaged in 26 factories of the tobacco industry and
another one million find indirect employment. It is
also an important source of foreign exchange
earnings for the country (US$ 11.61 million during
2004-2005). Had the production of tobacco crop not
been developed by the Pakistan Tobacco Board on
scientific lines, the country would have been
importing raw material worth Rupees 7-8 billion
(approx. 111- 127 million USD) per annum (Pakistan
Tobacco Board, 2007).
Optimum fertilizer application is very important for
getting high yield and quality of tobacco. Alles et al.
(1983) reported significant increase in leaf yield of
flue-cured tobacco with increase in fertilizer
application (mixture of N, P2O5 and MgO).
Maximum percentage of top quality leaves was
obtained at a higher dose of Cu fertilization (Hoppe,
1988). Gul (1989) concluded that deficiency of B
resulted in extreme turgidity and breakage of the

* Department of Agronomy, NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar – Pakistan.

** Tobacco Research Station, Khan Ghari, Mardan – Pakistan.
*** Institute of Development Studies, NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar – Pakistan.
**** Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar – Pakistan.
Zafar Hayat Khan, et al. Yield and quality of flue-cured Virginia tobacco, nicotiana tabcum ......
midribs of the leaves. Baber et al. (1987) mentioned
that Zn and B application increased the yield of Flue-
cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco, while Cu fertilization
increased the potash and sugar contents of tobacco.
Hu and Brown (1994) concluded that B deficiency
results in a rapid inhibition of plant growth. They also
reported that B deficiency impaired normal cell
elongation in growing plant tissues. According to
them Zn and B fertilizers increased nitrate reductase
activity in leaves. Khattak and Parveen (1986)
reported that 98, 3, 46 and 23 percent soils of NWFP
are deficient in B, Cu, Fe and Zn, respectively.
Shorrocks (1984) reviewed the most important
micronutrients, and stated that huge areas of
otherwise fertile land can be made altogether useless
for cropping by the absence of a few grams per
hectare of essential micronutrients, and that they can
be the key to successful production of many crops.
Micronutrients play a vital role in plant nutrition, and
are essential for various enzymatic reactions and
metabolic processes. Micronutrients availability is
with various changes occurring in the soils. Majority
of our soils are generally light to medium textured,
high in pH, low in organic matter, deficient in
nitrogen and phosphorus, calcareous to varying
degrees, where micronutrients may form insoluble
compounds and become unavailable to the plants.
Moreover high application of nitrogen and
phosphorus fertilizers, introduction of high yielding
varieties and intensive crop production system may
also induce the deficiencies of micronutrients. Due to
these facts, the micronutrients have become of
widespread concern during recent years. Therefore,
this study was initiated to investigate the effect of
some micronutrients on the yield and quality of FCV
tobacco in North West Frontier Province of Pakistan.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Experiments were carried out at Tobacco Research
Station, Khan Ghari, Mardan (NWFP), Pakistan,
during 1998-1999. Chemical characteristics of the
soil in the experimental area are presented in Table I.
Commercially available fico-micron (21.45% Zn,
25.69% Fe, 23.001% Mg and 29.4885 Cu) at rates of
0, 40 and 45 kg ha-1 along with boron at rates of 0, 5,
and 10 kg ha-1 were applied to the field. The
following treatment combinations were used:
The experiment was set up in randomized complete
block (RCB) design with three replications. Each plot
area was 16.2 m2 having 30 plants. Row to row
spacing of 90 cm and plant-to-plant spacing of 60 cm
were kept. Nursery of tobacco variety Speight G-28
was sown in the third week of December on raised
212
beds under polythene sheets. After germination,
weeding and thinning were followed during months
of January to March. The nursery was kept open to
the sun light during daytime, and covered during
night to protect from frost. Watering was done twice
a day by sprinkler. The seedlings were transplanted to
field in the 2nd week of March. The seedlings were
planted on the tops of ridges. NPK compound
fertilizer at rates of 40-80-80 kg ha-1 of nitrogen, P2O5
and K2O, respectively, along with micronutrients
were applied within seven days of transplantation.
Standard agronomic practices were followed
throughout the growing season.
Leaf length and breadth of the 5th, 10th and 15th leaves
were measured in “cm” from each plant of each
treatment. The leaf area of the 5th leaf was measured
before first picking, while the 10th and 15th leaf’s area
was measured at the 4th and 7th picking. Average was
worked out at the end to calculate leaf area (cm2) for
each treatment. At maturity leaf picking started
during the 2nd week of June up to August in seven
pickings and cured in the barns. Green leaf yield of
each treatment was taken just after each picking. The
total green leaf yield was calculated by the formula:
Green leaf yield (kg ha-1)
= Green wt. plot-1 (kg) x 10000 m2
16.2 m2
After curing in barn cured, the weight was recorded.
Cured leaf yield was calculated for each treatment as:
Cured leaf yield (kg ha-1)
= Cured wt plot-1 (kg) x 10000 m2
16.2 m2
Grade index is the percentage of top grades. This data
was calculated after curing. To measure grade index,
about 100 kg of bulk-cured yield was taken and
percentage of Pak-1, Pak-2, Pak-3, Pak-7 and Pak-9
were measured directly. The criteria for selection or
rejection are color, elasticity, moisture contents and
proper ripeness. Cured leaf samples were then
collected for chemical analysis. Nicotine was
determined by using perchloric acid solution in
glacial acetic acid as described by Cundiff and
Markunas (1964). Reducing sugar was determined in
accordance with the method of Lane and Eynon, as
described by Pearson (1962).
Statistical analysis was performed as suggested by
Steel and Torrie (1980) and treatment means were
compared with LSD test.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Leaf area
Data presented in Table III revealed that different
levels of fico-micron and boron significantly affected
leaf area of tobacco. Maximum leaf area was
Sarhad J. Agric. Vol.24, No.2, 2008
obtained with combined application of 40 kg ha-1
fico-micron and 10 kg ha-1 boron, while minimum
leaf area was obtained from application of only 5 kg
ha-1 of boron. Baber et al. (1985) and Baseer and Gul
(1998) reported similar results. They reported that Zn,
Cu, Fe, B and Mg improved the texture of leaf. These
findings are also in line with the results obtained by
Hu and Brown (1994), who reported that B is
essential for improvement of leaf texture, and leaf
area is mostly related with B, which has been found
in large quantities in meristematic tissues such as leaf
tip, root tip and buds. Table III also shows decrease
of leaf area at higher (45 kg ha-1) dose of fico-micron,
from which we may infer that 40 kg ha-1 is the
optimum dose for having maximum leaf area in
tobacco.
Green leaf yield (kg ha-1)
Different levels of fico-micron and boron
significantly affected green leaf yield (Table III).
Maximum green leaf yield was obtained by applying
fico-micron and boron at the rate of 45:10 kg ha-1,
while minimum values were recorded for control
plots. These results are logical, given that B is an
essential element for the development and growth of
plants and that it is determinant in such fundamental
processes as cell elongation and division or nucleic
acid metabolism (Shelp, 1993). Lopez-Lefebre et al.
(2002) reported that macronutrients N, P, K, and Na
responded positively to the dosage of B, notably
increasing in their concentration in roots and leaves.
Cured leaf yield (kg ha-1)
Different levels of fico-micron and boron
significantly affected cured leaf yield (Table IV).
Maximum cured leaf yield was obtained by applying
fico-micron and boron at the rate of 40:10 kg ha-1,
while minimum values were recorded for control
plots. The high yield may be due to more
photosynthesis; respiration and growth resulted due
to application of micronutrients. Magnesium
considerably increases dry matter yield of leaves
(Tobacco: Nutrient management, 2000). This increase
may be due to positive effect of B application exerted
on dry-material production and could be explained by
the general improvement in the nutritional state,
particularly of the essential macronutrients N, P and
K (Lopez-Lefebre et al., 2002). These results are in
conformity with Lin and Deng (1992), who reported
that application of Mg, Zn, or B fertilizers at
transplanting and by two foliar applications in the
growing season increased leaves chlorophyll
213
concentration, photosynthesis and yield of cured
leaves.
Grade index
Fico-micron and boron showed no significant effect
on grade index (Table IV). Highest grade index value
was, however, obtained when plants were treated
with 40:10 kg ha-1 fico-micron and boron, while
lowest values were recorded with 45:10 kg ha-1.
Higher dose of Cu in fico-micron might have
produced top quality leaves. These results are in
conformity with the results of Hoppe (1988). These
results are also supported by Hui et al. (2005), who
reported that application of B in base fertilizer could
increase leaf grade.
Nicotine percentage
Fico-micron and boron had no significant effect on
nicotine percentage as evident from Table V.
Maximum nicotine content was determined when
fico-micron and boron were applied at the rates of
40:10 kg ha-1, while minimum nicotine percentage
was observed in plots given only 5 kg ha-1 of boron.
These results are supported by Lin and Deng (1992),
who reported increased nicotine concentration in
tobacco leaves due to Zn, Mg and B application. But
these results are in contrast with Hui et al. (2005),
who reported increase in nicotine content with adding
boron in base fertilizer.
Reducing sugar percentage
Different levels of fico-micron and boron showed no
significant effect on reducing sugar percentage. Table
V revealed that maximum reducing sugar was
recorded with 10 kg ha-1 of only boron, while
minimum values were obtained when plants were
treated with fico-micron and boron at the levels of 45
and 10 kg ha-1, respectively. These results are in
contrast with Baseer and Gul (1998), who reported
that Mg and Cu increased sugar content of tobacco.
While Hui et al. (2005) reported that B application
could lower sugar content.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
It can be concluded from this study that along
macronutrients, micronutrients also have significant
effect on yield and quality of FCV tobacco. Among
treatments, fico-micron and boron at the rate of 40:10
kg ha-1 gave maximum leaf area and cured leaf yield.
More research is recommended to confirm the effects
of these micronutrients on the yield and quality of
tobacco.
Zafar Hayat Khan, et al. Yield and quality of flue-cured Virginia tobacco, nicotiana tabcum ...... 214

Table I Chemical characteristics of the soil in the experimental area

Depth (Cm) = 0-15
Textural class Silt loam B (mg g-1) 0.30
PH 7.7 Mg (mg kg-1) 6.80
E.C (ds m-1) 0.40 Zn (mg g-1) 1.10
N% 0.07 Cu (mg g-1) 1.65
Available P (mg kg-1) 8.60 Fe (mg g-1) 12.70
Available K (mg kg-1) 115 ----------------- ---------------

Table II Treatment combinations of Fico-micron and Boron

Treatment Fico-micron levels Boron levels
(Kg ha-1) (Kg ha-1)
T1 0 0
T2 0 5
T3 0 10
T4 40 0
T5 40 5
T6 40 10
T7 45 0
T8 45 5
T9 45 10

Table III. Leaf area and green leaf yield of tobacco as affected by different levels of fico-micron and boron.
Treatment (Kg ha-1) Leaf area (cm2) Green leaf yield
Fico-micron Boron (Kg ha-1)
0 0 587.0 ef 14380 e
0 5 582.3 f 15660 cde
0 10 631.7 cde 16580 cd
40 0 640.7 bcd 15170 de
40 5 680.7 ab 17440 bc
40 10 690.3 a 19530 ab
45 0 674.7 abc 16520 cde
45 5 655.3 abcd 17690 bc
45 10 625.0 def 21060 a
LSD value at P=0.05 47.6 215.5
Means followed by different letters within the same column are significant different at 5 % probability level.

Table IV. Cured leaf weight and grade index of tobacco as affected by different levels of fico-micron and boron.
Treatment (Kg ha-1) Cured leaf yield Grade index (%)
-1
Fico-micron Boron (Kg ha )
0 0 2368 c 69.3
0 5 2562 bc 69.7
0 10 2623 bc 68.3
40 0 2554 bc 71.0
40 5 2799 ab 69.3
40 10 2948 a 66.7
45 0 2608 bc 68.3
45 5 2824 ab 68.3
45 10 2923 ab 62.3
LSD value at P=0.05 282.4 NS
Means followed by different letters within the same column are significant different at 5 % probability level.
NS= Non-significant
Sarhad J. Agric. Vol.24, No.2, 2008
Table V Nicotine and reducing sugar contents of tobacco as affected by different levels of fico-micron and boron.
Treatment (kg ha-1)
Fico-micron Boron
0 0
0 5
0 10
40 0 2.25
40 5 2.13
40 10
45 0 2.14
45 5 2.05
45 10
NS
NS= Non-significant
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Zafar Hayat Khan, et al. Yield and quality of flue-cured Virginia tobacco, nicotiana tabcum ...... 216