BRAIEN LAW KWEKERY
MPUMULANGO, SOUTH AFRICA - 2012
PREAMBLE:
Tobacco is cultivated similarly to other agricultural products. Seeds are sown in cold frames or hotbeds to prevent attacks from insects, and then transplanted into the fields. Tobacco is an annual crop, which is usually harvested mechanically or by hand. After harvest, tobacco is stored for curing, either by hanging, bundling or placing in large piles with tubular vents to allow the heat to escape from the center. The value of the crop is directly related to the quality of the leaves. Larger more playable leaves, free of defects and fungus are more valuable.
OBJECTIVES:
Reduce transplant shock, increase the plant growth rate, reduce fusarium infestations, increase leaf size and quality, particularly in playability.
TREATMENT:
The planting aggregate is premixed with a combination of Micronomix products at a ratio of 2.2 lbs per 35 cubic feet of planting aggregate.
The following photos document a side by side trial of tobacco seedlings treated with Micronomix products versus a control group of conventionally grown ones.
RESULTS:
Micronomix plants experienced almost zero loss due to transplant shock, versus a 15% loss in the control group. Plant growth rate between the control group and Micronomix group while in the greenhouses is substantially different. Plants treated with Micronomix showed up to 50% more growth during the same period. Leaf development in the Micronomix plants are greater in length, width and thickness. Root development of the Micronomix plants is also significantly more pronounced with substantially more feeder roots evident. Plant leaves of the Micronomix plants at time of harvest, show no signs of fusarium, whereas fusarium is still noticeable on leaves of the control group. The farmer notes that the Micronomix leaves have excellent playability and are consistently better in quality.