EFFECTS OF STAND LOSS, PLANTING DATE, AND REPLANTING METHOD ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF FLUE-CURED TOBACCO

Abstract Research was conducted at one location in 2003 and two locations in 2004 and 2005 to evaluate the effects of stand loss, planting date, and replanting method on flue-cured tobacco yield and quality. Stand loss treatments included a 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% stand loss at two and four weeks after transplanting (WAT). In recent years, early season infections by Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) have caused significant stand losses in North Carolina, so an additional treatment was included to simulate the effects of plant loss to tomato spotted wilt. Simulated losses consisted of a 10%, 10%, and 20% stand loss at 3, 4, and 5 weeks after transplanting, respectively. Planting date treatments included planting at the normal transplanting date and at 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks after the normal transplanting date. To evaluate the effects of replanting method, tobacco was replanted at 2 or 4 weeks after normal replanting on an existing row ridge, a rebedded row ridge, and a tilled and rebedded row ridge. Due to exc...