Improvement of organic tobacco production systems in North Carolina

Project Director
Suchoff, DA, H..

Recipient Organization
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV
(N/A)
RALEIGH,NC 27695

Performing Department
Crop & Soil Sciences

Non Technical Summary
Tobacco is North Carolina's largest agronomic crop. More growers are trying to produce organic tobacco to meet a growing market demand and reduce the environmental impact of tradiational tobacco production practices. Little information is available to these growers as to how best grow organic tobacco. Our research is aimed at improving these practices while concurrently offering this information to growers.

Animal Health Component

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

100%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
102	1910	1060	50%
111	1910	1060	20%
204	1910	1060	10%
216	1910	1060	10%
213	1910	1060	10%

Knowledge Area
204 - Plant Product Quality and Utility (Preharvest); 102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships; 111 - Conservation and Efficient Use of Water; 216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems; 213 - Weeds Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
1910 - Flue-cured tobacco;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems);

Keywords

Goals / Objectives
The goals of this project are to improve our understanding and output of organic tobacco production systems while also disseminating this information to North Carolina growers. The objectives include, but are not limited to:-Comparison of no-till/reduced tillage systems in organic tobacco production systems.-Develop drip/plasticulture systems that increase efficiencies of water/nutrient inputs while also reducing weed competition.-Search for other cash crops that can be grown organically within the rotation plan of tobacco growers-Compare organic fertilizers in their efficacy and economics when used with tobacco.

Project Methods
Research will be conducted on NCDA research fascilities and in collaboration with NC organic tobacco farmers. Studies will be conducted such that scientifically sound comparisons can be made when investigating a new system, such as no-till, to the current organic practices utilized. This information will be transferred through field days, extension meetings, scientific meetings/conferences, publication in scientific and grower journals, and classroom lectures. Evaluations will be conducted by giving pre- and post-activity surveys that assess audience knowledge on the concepts discussed. Initial surveys of current organic grower practices will be taken. After the three year project, the survey will once again be given to evaluate efficacy of overall grower knowledge on organic production methods and adoption rates of new techniques.