Kentucky Fire Cured Tobacco

Cultivation of Kentuky Fire Cured tobacco on an experimental basis was taken up 1973.

• Black cotton soils are best suited for the cultivation of this variety.
• In the early years, Kentucky fire cured tobacco was "Smoked" in temporary barns constructed using bamboo wattle plastered with mud.
• These were later replaced with permanent duplex barns.

Type of soil and pH	This variety is cultivated on light to heavy black cotton soils with a pH range of 7.5 to 8.5
Spacing	90 Cms x 90 Cms - 12,000 plants / ha
Fertiliser Dosage	108 N : 115 P
Curing	The primed leaves are stitched to a Bengal twine and cured in a specially constructed barn. The curing period lasts for 22-25 days. The tobaccos are de-racked and bulked with 16 % - 18% moisture.

Grade Description

KFC 1	Tobaccos brown to dark in colour with leaf length 18" and above, medium to heavy body with desirable oils and sheen
KFC 2	Tobaccos brown to dark brown in colour, 15" to 18" in length, medium bodied, having oils and sheen.
KFC 3	Tobaccos brown to dark brown in colour, 10" to 15" in length, medium to heavy bodied, having adequate sheen and oils
KFC 4	Tobacco fallouts of 1,2,3 grades (composite) torn, packed in hand strips in tangled form or straight laid.

Chemical Analysis

Grade	Nicotine %	Total Sugars %
KFC 1	2.75 - 4.00	3.00 - 5.00
KFC 2	2.50 - 3.50	2.00 - 3.50
KFC 3	2.50 - 3.00	3.50 - 5.50

DDT Residue less than 0.40 ppm

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Oriental Tobacco

Oriental tobacco was introduced in Hyderabad on a small scale in the year 1968.

• Keeping in view the export demand for this variety, cultivation of this crop was extended over the years to parts of Karnataka where large stretches of light sandy loams are available.
• The crop being highly labour intensive is cultivated by small farmers having family labour.

Maximum plantation was carried out in 1997 when 900 hectares were planted by about 3000 farmers and a crop volume of 450 M.T. was produced. With the advent of the american type hybrid blends, this crop is presently grown to meet the domestic manufacturing requirements.

Year of introduction	1968
Peak	450 M.T.
Maximum Potential	1,000 M.T.
Type of soil and pH	This variety is grown on sandy loams which are relatively low in fertility having good sub-soil drainage. The pH of the soils range from 6 to 8.
Spacing	40 Cms x 10 Cms - 2,45,000 plants per hectare
Fertiliser Dosage	18 N: 50 P : 30 K
Curing	Tobaccos are sun-cured on low racks which are covered during the night to preotect the tobaccos from exposure to dew fall. The curing period ranges from 15 to 18 days.

Grade description

HAB	Comprises of Outches/Outches Alti and best of 'Annas' bodies pliable with lemon / Orange, running green and light brown colours. Length 1.5" to 5".
HB	Thinner bodied, pliable, lemon/orange to lemony. Length less than 7".
HK	Thinner bodied, brown, hard green, shattery leaf with varying lengths upto 8.5".

Chemical Analysis

Grade	Nicotine %	Total Sugars %	Chloride %
HAB	0.65 - 0.80	13 - 18	0.75
HB	0.55 - 0.80	13 - 18	0.97
HK	0.55 - 0.90	7 - 12	1.00

DDT Residues Analysis (ppm) 0.11 to 0.40

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Light Soils Burley Tobacco

• In india, cultivation of Burley was traditionally confined to black cotton soils.
• These tobaccos were close-grained, lacked resilience as well as the typical burley flavour.

Type of soil and pH	Red clayey loams with a pH range of 6.0 to 8.0
Spacing	90 Cms x 45 Cms. - 24,000 plants per hectare
Fertiliser dosage	108 N : 115 P
Curing	The primed leaves are stitched to a Bengal twine and are shade cured in specially designed barns. The curing period lasts for 35 to 45 days. The tobaccos are deracked and bulked at minimum moisture levels to prevent fermentation.

Grade description

RBA	Blend of flyings and lugs of first quality. Buff in colour, fluffier tobaccos
RBB	Blend of flyings and lugs of second quality. Fluffier tobaccos deep buff in colour.
RBC	Blend of flyings and lugs of third quality. Fluffier tobaccos deep buff to light tan in colour.
RBROC	Blend of flyings, lugs, cutters, leaf and tips of second and third quality. Light to medium bodied tobaccos buff to light tan in colour. Plain to spotted having reasonable flavour.

Chemical Analysis

Grade	Nicotine %	Total Sugars %	Chloride %
RBA	1.00 to 1.30	0.60 - 1.40	0.10 - 0.60
RBB	0.70 - 0.95	0.60 - 1.40	0.10 - 0.60
RBC	0.80 - 1.45	0.40 - 0.80	0.10 - 0.60
RBROC	1.20 - 1.35	0.60 - 0.80	0.20 - 0.75

DDT Residue analysis (ppm) 0.19 to 0.33

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Sun Cured Natu Tobacco

Sun cured Natu or Country tobacco is principally grown as a rainfed winter crop in the black cotton soils having a pH range of 7.5 to 8.5. The cultivation of this variety as a commercial crop was first promoted by VST in 1952.

• Due to increasing domestic demand for this variety, its cultivation over the years has been extended into the districts of Tlengana and Rayalaseema.
• Presently the crop is being cultivated by about 15,000 farmers on 18,000 hectares as against 100 hectares in 1952.
• During this period of 4 decades, both yield and quality of the tobacco has improved considerably.
• In recent years this variety has also found its way into the European, Nepal, Egyptian, vietnam and south African markets.
• SCN tobacco is being mainly used in the country for the manufacture of cigarettes.

Type of soil and pH	Medium to heavy black cotton soils with a pH range of 7.5 to 8.5.
Spacing	90 Cms. x 90 Cms. - 12,000 plants per hectare.
Fertiliser dosage	35 N : 35 P
Curing	The primed leaves are stitched on to Bengal twine and sun-cured. The curing period lasts 25 to 30 days. The cured tobaccos are bulked for about 4 to 6 weeks at about 18 to 20% moisture.

Grade description

K-CDK	Medium to heavy-bodied leaf, oily, brown to dark brown in colour
K-CBR	Medium bodied, oily, nut brown in colour.
K-CG	Thin to medium bodied, light green to dark green, devoid of oils

Chemical Analysis

Grade	Nicotine %	Total Sugars %	Chloride %
K-CDK	1.20 TO 3.50	7.00 TO 11.00	0.50 TO 0.80
K-CBR	2.15 TO 2.50	5.50 TO 7.00	0.50 TO 0.80
K-CG	1.75 TO 2.00	3.00 TO 4.50	0.50 TO 0.80

DDT Residues analysis (ppm) 0.07 to 0.09

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