Crop details

Tobacco

Nicotiana tabacum

Family: Solanaceae

Quick stats

Family	Solanaceae
Typical harvest	2.4 t/ha
Varieties	3
Pests & diseases	7
Seasons	3

Crop profile

Growth habit	annual
Days to harvest	120
Main uses	Cured leaf for cigarettes and other tobacco products; stalks and residues sometimes used as organic manure (handled carefully).
Pollination	self
Origin / where it grows	Warm-season crop grown in semi-arid to sub-humid regions, often in well-defined tobacco belts.

Weather, soil & spacing

Best temperature	18–28 °C
Rainfall	700–1000 mm/yr
Altitude	0–2000 m
Best pH	5.8–6.5
Soil type	Light to medium-textured, well-drained sandy loams or loams with low to moderate fertility; sensitive to salinity.
Row spacing	90 cm
Plant spacing	45 cm
Planting depth	1 cm
Seed rate	0.5 kg/ha
Nursery days	45

Simple notes for farmers

About the crop: This crop is annual. You plant, grow and harvest it in one main season, then plant again. You can normally start harvesting about 120 days after planting, depending on care and variety.

Main use: Farmers mostly grow this crop for cured leaf for cigarettes and other tobacco products; stalks and residues sometimes used as organic manure (handled carefully)..

Pollination: This crop is mainly pollinated by self. Keeping flowers healthy and having insects like bees in the field helps improve fruit set and yields.

Where it grows: Warm-season crop grown in semi-arid to sub-humid regions, often in well-defined tobacco belts. It is grouped under: Oil & Industrial.

Best climate: This crop does well in warm areas where the temperature is usually between 18 and 28 degrees Celsius. It prefers places that receive around 700 to 1000 millimetres of rain in a year. It can grow from near sea level up to about 2000 metres above sea level.

Soil: The crop grows best in slightly acidic to near neutral soils, with a pH of about 5.8 to 6.5. It does well in light to medium-textured, well-drained sandy loams or loams with low to moderate fertility; sensitive to salinity.. Good drainage is important, so avoid waterlogged spots.

Plant spacing: Plant in rows about 90 centimetres apart, and leave about 45 centimetres between plants in the row. This gives each plant enough space for roots and canopy to spread.

Planting depth: Dig planting holes or furrows about 1 centimetres deep so the roots sit firmly in the soil but are not buried too deep.

Seed or planting material: Use around 0.5 kilograms of seed or planting material per hectare. Spread or plant evenly so the field has a good stand without being overcrowded.

Nursery period: If you raise seedlings in a nursery, keep them there for about 45 days before transplanting to the main field, when they are strong and healthy.

Farmer guide (mwongozo wa mkulima)

Planting: Raise seedlings in a fine, well-managed nursery or float trays. Transplant carefully when plants have 4–6 true leaves and a pencil-thick stem.

Transplanting: Transplant in the late afternoon or cloudy weather. Water seedlings before lifting, trim long roots if needed and irrigate after transplanting.

Irrigation: Provide sufficient moisture at establishment, rapid vegetative growth and early leaf expansion. Reduce irrigation as plants near maturity to aid ripening and curing quality.

Fertigation: Where drip is used, apply small, frequent doses of N and K up to topping; avoid excessive N which delays maturity and lowers leaf quality.

Pest scouting: Scout for aphids, whiteflies, hornworms/budworms, root-knot nematodes and leaf spots. Monitor regularly from nursery through field growth.

Pruning: Top plants (remove flower heads) to improve leaf size and quality; remove suckers (side shoots) promptly to concentrate nutrients into main leaves.

Harvest: Harvest leaves in several primings, starting from lower ripe leaves (yellowing and mature), moving upwards as they reach proper ripeness depending on tobacco type.

Postharvest: Cure leaves according to type (flue-curing, air-curing, sun-curing etc.) with careful control of temperature and humidity to develop colour and aroma; store in cool, dry, well-ventilated stores.

Nutrient schedule (mbolea kwa hatua)

#	Stage	DAP	Product	Rate	Targets (kg/ha)	Notes
1	Basal at transplanting	0	NPK 17-17-17	90 kg/ha	N: 15, P₂O₅: 15, K₂O: 15	Apply in bands 5 cm away from transplant line and 5–7 cm deep, or in planting holes mixed well with soil.
2	Early topdress	21	CAN 26% N	80 kg/ha	N: 21, P₂O₅: 0, K₂O: 0	Side-dress on moist soil when plants are well established, then ridge lightly to cover fertilizer.
3	Pre-topping K boost	40	Sulfate of potash (SOP)	70 kg/ha	N: 0, P₂O₅: 0, K₂O: 40	Use sulfate of potash (not MOP) to avoid chloride; supports leaf quality and burning characteristics.

Nutrient requirements

Nutrient	Stage	Amount	Unit
N	Basal	30	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Basal	25	kg/ha
K₂O	Basal	40	kg/ha
N	Topdress_early	30	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Topdress_early	0	kg/ha
K₂O	Topdress_early	40	kg/ha
N	Pre_topping	10	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Pre_topping	0	kg/ha
K₂O	Pre_topping	30	kg/ha

Name	Country	Maturity	Traits
Flue-cured tobacco selection	KE	120	Good leaf colour and texture for flue-curing, suited to contract schemes.
Air-cured tobacco type	TZ	115	Suited to burley or air-cured production systems in mid-altitude zones.
Local tobacco landrace	UG	130	Adapted to smallholder systems with local curing barns and mixed uses.

Stage	Product	Rate (kg/ha)	Notes
Basal	NPK 17-17-17	90	Apply before or at transplanting, banded away from roots.
Early vegetative	CAN 26% N	80	Apply 3–4 weeks after transplanting when plants are actively growing.
Pre-topping	Sulfate of potash (SOP)	70	Apply before topping to enhance leaf quality and burning properties.

Name	Type	Symptoms	Management
Aphids	pest	Clusters on underside of leaves and young shoots, honeydew and sooty mould, leaf curling and distortion.	Destruction of volunteer tobacco, control of weeds, conserve natural enemies and treat only when economic thresholds are...
Whiteflies	pest	Small white insects on underside of leaves, honeydew and sooty mould; can transmit viruses.	Avoid overuse of insecticides that kill natural enemies, use yellow sticky traps and maintain field hygiene.
Tobacco hornworm/budworm (caterpillars)	pest	Large holes and defoliation on leaves, feeding damage near growing points and buds.	Hand-pick where practical, conserve natural enemies and monitor fields regularly to manage outbreaks early.
Root-knot nematodes	pest	Stunted, pale plants, galled roots and poor stand performance.	Rotate with non-host crops, use resistant/tolerant varieties where available, avoid planting in heavily infested fields.
Blue mould / downy mildew	disease	Pale-yellow lesions on upper leaf surface with bluish-grey mould underneath, rapid leaf blighting.	Good nursery hygiene, adequate spacing for airflow, avoid overhead irrigation late in the day.
Black shank / root and stalk rots	disease	Dark lesions at stem base, wilting and death of plants, brown decayed roots.	Rotate with non-host crops, improve drainage, avoid planting in low, wet spots.
Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and related viruses	disease	Mosaic mottling on leaves, distortion, reduced leaf size and yield.	Use healthy seedlings, avoid smoking or handling tobacco products in nurseries/fields without washing hands, destroy inf...

System	Typical	Min	Max	Notes
Low-input smallholder (cured leaf)	1.2	0.8	1.8	Basic fertilization, variable curing structures and pest management.
Managed contract grower (cured leaf)	2.5	1.8	3.2	Improved varieties, recommended fertilizer rates, good weed and pest control and company-curing protocols.
Intensive high-input (cured leaf)	3.5	2.8	4.2	High-yielding varieties on good soils with optimal water, nutrition and curing infrastructure.

Country	Region	Planting	Harvest
KE	Warm mid-altitude and lowland tobacco belts	Nursery sowing 6–8 weeks before expected transplanting; transplant at onset of reliable rains or under irrigation.	Primings begin about 2.5–3 months after transplanting; picking and curing continue for several weeks.
TZ	Western, central and southern tobacco zones	Nursery sowing before rainy season, transplant early in rains for good establishment.	Leaf primings and curing through the dry season after rains.
UG	Northern and mid-altitude tobacco-growing areas	Nursery sowing timed so transplanting coincides with start of main rains.	Curing season follows end of main rains, with successive primings as leaves ripen.

Country	Region	Suitability
KE	Designated tobacco belts in warm mid-altitude and lowland zones with defined dry seasons	High
TZ	Western, central and southern tobacco-growing zones with warm climate and seasonal rainfall	High
UG	Northern and some mid-altitude districts where tobacco is traditionally grown	High