Effects of Relay Cropping of Corn on the Productivity and Quality of Flue‐Cured Tobacco

Abstract

Relay cropping timing has been frequently reported to in uence ue-cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) production. However, the optimal planting time for a relay corn (Zea mays L.) crop on ue-cured tobacco elds is unknown in terms of tobacco health, yield, quality, and economic value. A eld experiment was conducted with 10, 17, 24, and 31 d a er ue-cured tobacco apex excision as the relay cropping timings of corn, and tobacco monoculture as the control at Chuxiong, Yunnan, China in 2010 and 2011. e ve treatments were repeated three times in a randomized complete block design. e occurrence of brown spot (Alternaria alternata), plant biomass, plant N and K nutrition, yield, chemical composition, smoking quality, and economic value of ue-cured tobacco were a ected by year. Relay cropping 17 d a er tobacco apex excision resulted in better chemical composition and smoking quality. e incidence and severity index of brown spot, plant biomass, plant N and K nutrition, yield, chemical composition, smoking quality, and economic value of tobacco were not signi cantly a ected by the relay cropping timing of corn, indicating that relay cropping of corn at a later growth stage of ue-cured tobacco has no negative e ect on tobacco production while the relay corn crop may bring additional income to tobacco growers. In conclusion, if the production of relay corn is pro table, relay cropping of corn a er ue-cured tobacco apex excision could become a recommended cropping system in Yunnan and other regions with similar environmental conditions. 0.001 probability level. † The perfect total score is 100, composed of aroma type 15, aroma amount 20, residue taste 25, undesirable smell 18, irritation 12, combustibility 5, and ash color 5. ‡ ns, not significant at 0.05 probability level. § Means in a column within the years averaged over the treatments followed by the same letter are not significantly different at P = 0.05 according to the Fisher's protected LSD in the SAS Procedure Mixed.

Determination of 18 phenolic acids in tobacco and rhizosphere soil by ultra high performance liquid chromatography combined with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

“…As the biggest country to produce and consume tobacco in the world, tobacco industry plays vital role in China's economy . However, continuous cropping of tobacco in the same farmland would shift the diversity distribution of microbial community in tobacco soil and decrease the yield and quality of tobacco leaves . It was reported that phenolic acids in soil were one of the important compounds to induce this phenomenon of continuous cropping obstacle in crop planting .…”

Optimal Planting Timing for Corn Relay Intercropped with Flue‐Cured Tobacco

“…The results of this study demonstrate that the flue‐cured tobacco and corn relay‐intercropping system was much more profitable than monoculture corn because the relay‐intercropping system can grow a highly profitable flue‐cured tobacco crop in addition to the relay‐intercrop corn and, thus, increased the economic returns from the land to farmers. On the other hand, the findings about the effects of relay‐intercropped corn on flue‐cured tobacco (Zhou et al, 2014) demonstrated that the flue‐cured tobacco and corn relay‐intercropping system when corn was intercropped at earlier dates was more profitable than monoculture flue‐cured tobacco because relay intercropping of corn at earlier dates did not negatively affect flue‐cured tobacco yield or economic value but produced a profitable relay‐intercropped corn crop. Compared with the net return of monoculture flue‐cure tobacco of $7465.00 ha −1 in this study (Zhou et al, 2014), the whole system net return when corn was intercropped 10 and 17 d after flue‐cured tobacco apex excision was $376.70 ha −1 and $129.00 ha −1 higher, respectively.…”

“…On the other hand, the findings about the effects of relay‐intercropped corn on flue‐cured tobacco (Zhou et al, 2014) demonstrated that the flue‐cured tobacco and corn relay‐intercropping system when corn was intercropped at earlier dates was more profitable than monoculture flue‐cured tobacco because relay intercropping of corn at earlier dates did not negatively affect flue‐cured tobacco yield or economic value but produced a profitable relay‐intercropped corn crop. Compared with the net return of monoculture flue‐cure tobacco of $7465.00 ha −1 in this study (Zhou et al, 2014), the whole system net return when corn was intercropped 10 and 17 d after flue‐cured tobacco apex excision was $376.70 ha −1 and $129.00 ha −1 higher, respectively. In contrast, the whole system net return when corn was intercropped 24 and 31 d after flue‐cured tobacco apex excision was $360.30 ha −1 and $224.80 ha −1 lower than the net return of monoculture flue‐cured tobacco, respectively.…”

“…Additionally, each grade had an associated monetary value; this value was multiplied with crop yield to establish overall crop value. The costs of tobacco seedling, fertilizer, pesticide, and labor for flue‐cured tobacco production were based on the market prices of the current year (Zhou et al, 2014).…”

“…), cabbage (Brassica pakinensis Rupr), or potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), the researchers found inconsistent relay-intercropping effects on fluecured tobacco growth, yield, and quality (Liu et al, 2011;Fu et al, 2005). In our previous study, relay intercropping of corn at a later growth stage of flue-cured tobacco had no negative effect on tobacco production, while the relay corn crop might increase corn production acreage and bring additional income to tobacco growers (Zhou et al, 2014). On the other side, understanding the influence of relay intercropping on the secondary corn crop productivity is very important, since corn accounts for 28% of total grain production in Yunnan (Chen, 2007).…”