Determinants of Tobacco Cultivation and the Associated Impacts of Adoption in Hurungwe District, Zimbabwe

Tobacco is an essential cash crop in Zimbabwe and a strategic livelihood option for hundreds of thousands of rural households. However, the crop is linked to negative environmental, economic, and social impacts. The existing studies on tobacco cultivation in Zimbabwe present contradictory findings on the determinants and impacts of adoption, leaving unanswered questions about the crop’s sustainability impact in the country. This article investigates the determinants of smallholder farmers’ decisions to grow tobacco and the associated impacts of adoption. Random and purposive sampling were used to select 273 household surveys, including tobacco and non-tobacco smallholder farmers, and 56 expert interviews to answer the research questions. We employed regression models alongside expert interviews and document analysis to identify the determinants influencing the decision-making process of smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe regarding tobacco cultivation. Additionally, our investigation aimed to elucidate the perceived impacts associated with the adoption of this agricultural practice. The regression analysis indicated that the farmer’s age, education level, farming experience, family size, household income, and perceived high farm profitability are significant drivers of tobacco adoption. We also discovered divergent and convergent perceptions of the critical impacts of tobacco cultivation. The study highlights the need for proactive multi-stakeholder collaboration and sustainable financial arrangements to address the negative impacts of tobacco production. As the primary stakeholder responsible for regulating and promoting agricultural activities, the Zimbabwean government should provide meaningful financial support, increase access to credit, and ensure better market facilities for alternative crops to reduce the over-dependence on tobacco.

Effects of plastic mulching film-induced leaf burning on seedling growth in tobacco cultivation:Different findings beyond conservation view

Solving high-temperature plastic mulching film-induced leaf burning in the first week during tobacco cultivation would take much time and effort. In the present study, the growth as well as the leaf sugar and nicotine contents of seedlings with or without leaf burning induced by high-temperature plastic mulching film were tested at two independent sites in 2015 and 2016 to identify the influence of leaf burning on seedling growth. The results showed that the growth of seedlings with leaf burning was improved with increased leaf area, leaf number and plant height compared to those without leaf burning, combined with an increased seedling survival rate at two sites in two years. In seedlings with leaf burning, the contents of fructose and glucose increased and peaked at 11：00 and 13：00 in the leaf and root, respectively, with an increased root nicotine content beginning at 13：00, highlighting the signalling role of sugars. Activities of antioxidant enzymes including peroxidase （POD）, superoxide dismutase （SOD） and catalase （CAT） were all increased in seedlings with leaf burning. More plant biomass was allocated to roots in seedlings with leaf burning with increased root volume compared to control seedlings, which might facilitate the absorption of water and nutrients from the soil. Our findings demonstrate that high-temperature plastic mulching film-induced leaf burning not inhibited but benefited seedling survival and growth, suggesting that the time and labour-consuming manual plucking of burnt leaves can be avoided during tobacco cultivation.

Occurrence Regularity of Tobacco Cutworm Moth (Spodoptera Litura) in Low-Altitude Tobacco Cultivation Areas in Lincang

[ Objective ] The paper was to study the occurrence and damage regularity of tobacco cutworm moth （Spodoptera Litura Fabricius） in low-altitude area in Lincang city. [ Method] The adult sex attractant monitoring, field investigation of occurrence and damage, and observation of continuous generation development of natural populations were carried out in natural flue-cured tobacco fields. [ Result] In field growth period of flue-cured tobacco under low-altitude of 1 000 - 1300 m, tobacco cutworm moth occurred for 4 generations, the duration of each generation was about 33 d, and the main injurious generation was the third generation. [ Conclusion] The paper provided reference for comprehensive control of tobacco cutworm moth in the low altitude areas.

Analysis on the Change of Soil pH in Tobacco Fields During the Cultivation of Flue-cured Tobacco

[Objectives] This study was conducted to understand soil p H changes during tobacco planting and its reasons. [Methods]Soil samples were collected from Jingdong,Jinggu and Zhenyuan tobacco-planting areas of Pu'er City before tobacco planting and during different growth stages of tobacco. [Results] Planting flue-cured tobacco changed the soil p H value. First,it was affected by the nicotine produced by the root system of tobacco plants. Second,it was affected by the type of soil. [Conclusions] This study has certain theoretical guiding significance for the cultivation management of flue-cured tobacco and the arrangement of ensuing crops.

Water requirement pattern for tobacco and its response to water deficit in Guizhou Province

The water requirement pattern for tobacco（Yun 85） was identified based on analysis of data obtained from pot experiments in a canopy at the Xiuwen Irrigation Test Central Station in Guizhou Province, China. The results showed that the tobacco water requirement and the tobacco water requirement intensity throughout the growth period in pot experiments were significantly lower than those in field production. In pot experiments, the tobacco water requirement throughout the growth period ranged from 159.00 to 278.90 mm, with a reduction in the range of241e441 mm, as compared with that in field production. Also, the average water requirement intensity at the vigorous growing stage was1.97 mm/d, and the water requirement and water requirement module were 33.80e72.60 mm and 16.39%e33.09%, respectively, at the group stage, almost equal to their values at the vigorous growing stage. The patterns of the tobacco water requirement and water requirement module in pot experiments were different from those in field production. In pot experiments, the tobacco water requirement and water requirement module ranked the highest at the mature stage, followed by those at the group/vigorous growing and rejuvenation stages, while the water requirement intensity ranked the highest at the vigorous growing stage, followed by those at the mature, group, and rejuvenation stages. The pattern of the water requirement intensity in pot experiments was consistent with that in field production. In addition, the response of the tobacco water requirement to water deficit was also analyzed. Serious water deficit at the vigorous growing stage and continuous water stress at the group,vigorous growing, and mature stages can greatly influence the tobacco water requirement. Water deficit led to reductions in the water requirement and water requirement intensity at each growth stage. The vigorous growing stage exhibited the highest sensitivity to water deficit.The lower limit of moderate soil water stress at the vigorous growing stage was 65% of the field capacity. Results of this study can help to establish a reasonable irrigation schedule for tobacco production in Guizhou Province, China.