Hema
A CTRI FCV variety for the Southern Light Soils and the Karnataka belt, giving a thin, bright, good-burning leaf when cured well.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Tobacco
- Type
- FCV tobacco variety
- Season
- Rabi
- Maturity period
- About 110–115 days after transplanting
- Seed rate
- About 2.5–3 g per m² of nursery bed; ~100 m² of nursery per hectare
- Expected yield
- Cured leaf around 1,900–2,400 kg/ha, thin bright leaf when cured well
- Suitable soil
- Light soils of the southern FCV tracts
- Release
- A CTRI FCV variety for the Southern Light Soils and the Karnataka light-soil belt
About this variety
Hema is a flue-cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco variety from the Central Tobacco Research Institute recommended for the Southern Light Soils and the Karnataka light-soil belt. It is grown for a thin, bright, elastic, good-burning leaf that grades well when the nursery, nutrition and cure are all handled properly. It carries no special disease resistance.
Key characteristics
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing timeNursery July–August; transplant hardened seedlings September to October
- Seed rateAbout 2.5–3 g per m² of nursery bed; ~100 m² of nursery per hectare
- Spacing100 × 55 cm on ridges
- Sowing methodTransplant nursery-raised, hardened seedlings one per hill onto ridges
- IrrigationFrequent light irrigations to topping, then a controlled dry-down for a bright cure
- FertilizerAbout 60:60:90 kg N:P2O5:K2O/ha, sulphate of potash, all nitrogen within 30 days
- HarvestingPrime ripe leaves from the bottom up in 5–7 rounds and flue-cure to schedule
Soil & climate
Soil
- Suitable soil
- Light sandy loams and red loams; not heavy or rich soil
- pH
- 5.0–6.5
Climate
- Climate
- Suited to the southern light-soil belt; a dry, bright ripening spell is needed for the thin bright leaf it is grown for
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
About 110–115 days after transplanting
Expected yield
Cured leaf around 1,900–2,400 kg/ha, thin bright leaf when cured well
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
Management notes
- Rotate 2–3 years with a non-host cereal or sorghum
- Top and desucker on time; keep nitrogen early and chloride-free
- Do not over-water near ripening — it thickens and dulls the leaf
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Thin, bright, elastic, good-burning leaf that grades well
- Well suited to the southern light-soil FCV conditions
Things to consider
- No black-shank or virus resistance
- A light-soil FCV variety; not for black soils, bidi or chewing use
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Karnataka
- Andhra Pradesh
Frequently asked questions
What is Hema tobacco grown for?
Hema is grown for a thin, bright, elastic, freely burning FCV leaf that grades well at auction. It is recommended for the Southern Light Soils and the Karnataka light-soil belt, and needs a proper nursery, a chloride-free early nitrogen dose and a well-managed flue-cure to express that quality.
How is Hema different from Siri?
Both are CTRI FCV varieties. Hema is tuned to the Southern Light Soils and the Karnataka belt for a particularly thin, bright leaf, while Siri is valued for wide adaptation across both the Andhra and Karnataka belts and a stable, consistent yield. Neither has special disease resistance.
Sourced from: ICAR-Central Tobacco Research Institute (CTRI), Rajahmundry, Tobacco Board, India. editorial policy.