G.A.P.
(Good agronomic practices)

VARIETAL CHOICE

The choice of variety must take into account market needs, soil and climate characteristics, resistance to endemic diseases and company organization.

It is mandatory to use seeds certified for origin, purity, germination and GMO free

Aim to increase, where suitable soil and climate conditions exist, the use of varieties with Full flavor (Aromatic) characteristics.

EXPERIMENTATION ACTIVITIES
Every year, varietal tests are conducted on two separate plots, comparing new lines to evaluate their response to our environmental conditions. The data collected concerns

• biometric data
• qualitative judgment on a curated product (commercial classification)
• smoke assessment
• sensitivity to pathogens
• yield per hectare
• propensity to emit shoots

In the event that one or more varieties provide good performances, confirmed for at least three years (the period necessary to eliminate the variable “seasonal incidence”), they can be recommended “in open field” to growers, and introduced with caution, in their cultivation plans.

PVH 2324 and PVH 2233 included in the previous table can be considered “new entries” resulting from our activity.

PRODUCTION OF PLANT IN “FLOAT SYSTEM”

FERTILIZATION

1. When placing containers:
   Water-soluble fertilizers: N-P-K (18-11-18) or similar but, possibly, with a ratio of 2:1:2 with a low chlorine content (fertilizers too rich in phosphorus push the seedlings to "stretch") and without ureic nitrogen at a maximum dose of 500 g/m3 of water
2. When topping up:
   Ammonium nitrate at 34% at a maximum dose of 300 g/m3

WATER TOP-UP
It is carried out when the water level has dropped by approximately 30%, and in any case before the salt concentration exceeds the maximum level of 2.3 mS/cm.

SHEARING OR MOWING (clipping)
Essential to obtain good uniformity and quality seedlings. The first cut should be made when the seedlings exceed 4 cm in height and repeated at least 3-5 times before transplanting in order to obtain seedlings with a robust stem. It is good practice to disinfect the cutting bar every time it is moved from one greenhouse to another, to avoid the spread of diseases (fungi-viruses-bacteria).

OPENING AND CLOSING GREENHOUSES
The temperature inside the tunnels must never exceed 35°C measured approximately 30-50 cm above the containers.

After the tobacco seedling has emerged, open the tunnels (even on cloudy days), opening in the morning and closing early in the evening to capture heat.

Place a windbreak of adequate height at the ends of the tanks and inside the greenhouses to prevent cold air from directly hitting the seedlings and to prevent the wind from carrying weed seeds and/or pathogens into the greenhouses.

SALINITY CONTROL
The conductivity value of the water in the tanks must remain between 1.4 mS and 2.00 mS. The salinity must be corrected by adding only water if too high or by adding fertilizers if too low.

REPLACEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF ORGANIC SUBSTANCE

Organic matter, due to its microbiological, nutritional and physical importance, is the heritage of the soil. Its conservation and/or enrichment is promoted with:

Nota:
Il sovescio è una pratica molto diffusa per ovviare “all’effetto stanchezza” dovuto alla monocoltura. E’ consigliata la semina di favino, che consente una buona flessibilità del periodo di semina (Ottobre/Novembre) ed è in grado di ben sopportare le gelate invernali, migliora la struttura e quindi la capacità di campo del terreno.
In presenza di orobanche si consiglia la semina di trifoglio squarroso.
Un buon sovescio di leguminose può apportare  importanti quantità di azoto a lento rilascio, di cui ne va  tenuto necessariamente conto nel piano di concimazione.

MAIN AND COMPLEMENTARY WORKS

The aim of the processes is to create, in conjunction with the meteorological agents (sun, water and frost), the best conditions to host any type of cultivation.

WEED CONTROL

Weeds are controlled with the combined action of:
- agronomic methods
- chemical methods.

It is important to choose appropriately prepared equipment or adopt measures to contain the drift effect (anti-drift nozzles, deflectors, recovery mechanisms, air sleeves, devices to bring the equipment closer to the vegetation, etc.). Treatments on windy days are not recommended.

FERTILIZERS

 Soil analysis for the evaluation of physical-chemical characteristics is essential to orient oneself on the choices of the type of fertilizer and the quantities. For a correct fertilization plan it is necessary to analyze the soil every 3-4 years.

A) Nitrogen
For the tobacco grower it is the critical factor par excellence, and its management depends on

Parameters to consider for the units/ha to be distributed of fertilizers:

• rotation
• variety
• irrigation system
• development
• force
• color of the leaves
• climate trend

The nitrogen form to be used depends on the distribution period. Extraordinary interventions after trimming, due to heavy rainfall, must be evaluated WITH THE FIELD TECHNICIAN OR THE AGRICULTURAL MANAGER In particularly dry climatic conditions in case of evident vigor and color it is essential to increase the volume of irrigation water.

The choice of Dose/Period/Form is therefore a fundamental moment.

Covering interventions:
to be done 5-7 days after transplanting, with hoeing, hoeing with tiller, earthing up operations:

- 1° intervention with ammonium nitrate.
More efficient form as it has a readily available nitric part and an ammonia part less subject to losses by leaching; however, it requires particularly careful management in the presence of clayey soils.

- 2° intervention with calcium nitrate or potassium nitrate, the latter being excellent for increasing the qualitative characteristics of tobacco

The use of foliar fertilizers, in chelated form, is recommended only in the presence of evident microelement deficiencies.
Nitrogen deficiencies are manifested on the leaves that become yellowish (chlorotic) starting from those of the lowest crowns, as the deficit increases they move upwards (photo 1). Plants deficient in nitrogen have a development deficit and tend to PRE-FLOWERING.

B) Phosphorus
This element is subject to insolubilization and retrogradation phenomena in the soil that make it unavailable to the root. Its localized contribution at transplant has a "starter effect", it is a factor of precocity for the development of the plant, a further contribution can be foreseen at the 1st hoeing. A binary starter fertilizer N-P is recommended, in microgranulated or liquid form (in this case to be introduced into the transplant water). Phosphorus is essential for the metabolism of the plant, as an energy vector and constituent of the phospholipid membrane.

Phosphorus deficiency: in the plant it manifests itself with a delay in growth, especially at the beginning of the season.
Plants may be dark green if nitrogen levels are adequate, with leaves that may be narrower than normal. Small necrotic spots may appear on the lower leaves when the deficiency is severe, these then turn yellow and dry.

C) Potassium
Choose high-titer binary or ternary fertilizers in the basic fertilization. Fractionated contribution in open fields and coverage given its average mobility in the soil. Use only potassium from sulphate and absolutely avoid that from chloride. A “forcing” of potassium fertilization has positive effects on the color.

Potassium deficiencies are manifested by chlorosis which is more or less marked at the tips of the leaves and sometimes also at the edges, accompanied by necrotic spots. The lower leaves are curved towards the lower surface of the lamina (figures 2, 3).

Magnesium
Magnesium is an important component of chlorophyll and also a cofactor of many enzymes.
If the analyses show that it is necessary to add Magnesium, 100-150 kg/ha of Magnesium Sulphate should be applied.
A deficiency is manifested by leaves that present a chlorosis that begins along the edges of the blade (photo 4), if the deficiency increases the leaf whitens (chlorosis), while the veins tend to maintain their green colour.

LOCALIZED FERTILIZATION
It is particularly recommended in the presence of cold or silty soils.
It allows to reduce the quantities supplied and consequently the production costs.
The dose of fertilizer administered in the open field can be conveniently reduced by at least 30%.

TRANSPLANT

IRRIGATION


Any annual crop, unlike tree crops, only partially recovers losses due to water stress. Tobacco grown in water shortage, in addition to losing in quantitative terms, is subjected to strong biochemical and physical changes that worsen its quality. The leaves under treatment release water with difficulty, prolonging their duration, and taking on opaque colors tending towards gray.
Irrigation must occur before the wilting point is reached and with a volume sufficient to bring the soil back to field capacity. Higher supplies cause waste and root asphyxia. The control of the water content of the soil can be performed indirectly by measuring, during the hottest moments of the day, the temperature of the apical leaves using an infrared thermometer. When the difference between ambient and leaf temperature is less than two degrees, irrigation must be carried out promptly. This system allows the water stress of the plant to be measured objectively.

DEFENSE

The activity of “scouting”, or monitoring, is basic, this must begin in the greenhouse with the preparation of the seedlings and continue in the field after transplanting. The checks must be frequent, every 2 days.

In compliance with the provisions of the Integrated Pest Control Regulations, it is necessary to treat only in the event of the presence of adversities, when the intervention thresholds are exceeded, avoiding scheduled treatments.

Where applicable, the provisions of the Municipal Regulations that establish the rules for the use of agrochemicals in agricultural and non-agricultural areas must be respected, in compliance with the provisions of the PAN (National Action Plan for the sustainable use of agrochemicals).

To rationalize the use of plant protection products, it will be important to develop forecasting models that support the grower in making the necessary decisions to protect production; these, based on weather data, correlating the climate-pathogen-plant relationship, are able to estimate the advent and development of certain phytopathologies. The most recent ones identify the various stages of a disease, therefore the grower is alerted and can prepare to intervene promptly.

PRUNING

Pruning consists in removing the inflorescence at the FLOWER BUTTON stage.

Effects of pruning in general

• Increases yield and quality (cell multiplication and extension)
• Stimulates early root development, which increases fertilizer effectiveness, drought tolerance and nicotine production
• Reduces the chances of plants being lodged by strong winds
• It helps reduce the development of certain insects (aphids and leaf moths), because eggs and larvae are removed with the flower

Effects of “flower button” pruning

• Increase the optimal period of growth and maturation of leaves (growth window)
• Facilitates collection by crown
• Better control of sprouts
• Optimization of harvesting and curing equipment (increase in oven surfaces)

Comparison between well-pruned (right) and poorly-pruned (left)

COLLECTION

The leaves of the tobacco plant show very precise signs of reaching maturity:

• with the increase in dry matter the leaves tend to fall downwards;
• the central vein tends to lighten and lose hairs from the top of the leaf to the insertion on the stem;
• the same leaves, with different gradations depending on the variety, take on a light green/yellowish colour.

Make a careful assessment of the actual economic convenience for harvesting low leaves.

Before collecting, consider the following points:

1. respect the waiting times of the products used;
2. harvest ripe tobacco. Only the basal leaves (branciola), given the speed with which they ripen, are best harvested early;
3. collect by crown (4 mandatory steps);
4. avoid collecting wet leaves;
5. collect turgid leaves: if necessary, intervene with a light irrigation before harvesting.

With mechanical harvesting, further precautions are necessary to avoid complications both in the operational phase and on the quality of the tobacco, and precisely:

1. the land must be perfectly level (the harvesting height will be constant and the same leaf layer will always be collected).
2. earthing up must facilitate the collection of the basics (branciole), therefore the ridges must be created according to the type of harvesting machine;
3. the forward speed must be adjusted to that of the defoliators; low forward speeds cause the defoliator to hit the leaf layer above the collection surface several times, causing it to stick; high speeds break the collected leaves;
4.  adjust the knives of the machines used for the last harvest, in order to avoid removing pieces of stalk with the leaves (organic NTRM)
5. transporting large volumes of tobacco favors the packing of leaves, especially the basic ones. It is advisable to increase the number of trips, especially on long journeys;
6. the number of harvests must not be less than 4: the lower the number of leaves harvested, the higher the possibility of curing a homogeneous tobacco.

PACKAGING OF GREEN TOBACCO BASKETS

• The weight of the green tobacco in the baskets varies with the crown. Lighter with the first crowns, heavier with the subsequent ones;
• Make sure that all the baskets in the cell have the same weight;
• The tobacco must be evenly distributed inside the baskets.
• Take care to remove all foreign substances, whether organic (grass, stalks, shoots, etc.) or inorganic (stones, bottles, plastic, gloves, etc.).
• Eating, drinking and smoking in the work areas is strictly prohibited.
• Make sure that at the end of maintenance the machines are thoroughly cleaned of: plastic clamps, wires, gaskets, pipes, oil.
• Duct tape, etc….

TREATMENT

The tobacco leaf is a LIVING element, through the stomata it “exchanges with the outside”, (O2, CO2, H20), our objective with the cure is to keep it alive until the Temperature of 45 C° or at the end of the color fixation phase. From here on we will talk about drying.

The cure is the thermal process that concludes the "agricultural phase", it is conducted in rooms where three environmental factors are controlled and managed:

• air temperature                                (burner/boiler)
  
• air humidity or relative humidity       (opening valves)
  
• movement of air                               (ventilation)
  

It must be said first that: quality is achieved in the field and not in the treatment rooms, here it can and must be preserved, but we certainly cannot improve it!

SCOPE:

1. maintain tobacco in ideal conditions of temperature and humidity such as to promote desired chemical and biological changes in the leaf
2. make the leaf preservable and bring out its potential quality
3. ensure market stability and shelf life.

 The cure is much more than a simple process of drying the leaf, where you simply eliminate water from the tissues (the cure is a real “art”)!
The cure is the succession of four phases:

1. yellowing
2. color fixation
3. drying of the foil
4. rib drying
5. yellowing
6. color fixation
7. drying of the foil
8. rib drying

The actual time for each phase and consequently for the entire treatment cycle, can vary greatly, depending on various parameters, specified below.