Siri
A widely adapted CTRI FCV variety grown across both the Andhra and Karnataka belts, valued for a stable yield and a reliable bright-leaf grade-out.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Tobacco
- Type
- FCV tobacco variety
- Season
- Rabi
- Maturity period
- About 110–120 days after transplanting
- Seed rate
- About 2.5–3 g of seed per m² of nursery bed; roughly 100 m² of nursery per hectare of field
- Expected yield
- Cured leaf around 2,000–2,500 kg/ha with a good grade-out under proper curing
- Suitable soil
- Light soils of the Andhra and Karnataka FCV belts
- Release
- A CTRI FCV variety recommended across the Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka light-soil FCV tracts
About this variety
Siri is a flue-cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco variety from the Central Tobacco Research Institute grown across both the Andhra Pradesh and the Karnataka FCV belts. Its strength is wide adaptation and consistency — a stable cured-leaf yield and a dependable proportion of bright grades when the crop is nursed, fertilised and cured properly. Like other FCV varieties it has no special disease resistance and depends on rotation and clean cultivation.
Key characteristics
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing timeNursery July–August; transplant hardened 6–7 week seedlings September to early November
- Seed rateAbout 2.5–3 g of seed per m² of nursery bed; roughly 100 m² of nursery per hectare of field
- Spacing100 × 55 cm on ridges
- Sowing methodTransplant nursery-raised, hardened seedlings one per hill onto ridges
- IrrigationFrequent light irrigations to topping on light soils, then a controlled dry-down for leaf ripening
- FertilizerAbout 60:60:90 kg N:P2O5:K2O/ha, sulphate of potash, all nitrogen within 30 days of transplanting
- HarvestingPrime ripe leaves from the bottom up in 5–7 rounds; flue-cure each batch through a controlled temperature rise over about a week
Soil & climate
Soil
- Suitable soil
- Light sandy loams and red loams of the FCV belts
- pH
- 5.0–6.5
Climate
- Climate
- Its wide adaptation makes it a safe choice across the varied light-soil FCV conditions of both states; ripening still needs a dry, bright spell for a good cure
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
About 110–120 days after transplanting
Expected yield
Cured leaf around 2,000–2,500 kg/ha with a good grade-out under proper curing
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; keep the nursery on clean or solarised soil
- Top and desucker on time; keep all nitrogen early and chloride-free
- Prime by leaf ripeness and cure to schedule — a rushed cure loses grades
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Wide adaptation across both the Andhra and Karnataka FCV belts
- Stable yield and a reliable bright-grade proportion under proper curing
- A safe, well-tested default where a grower is unsure which variety suits their plot
Things to consider
- No black-shank or virus resistance — not for an infested field without a long rotation
- Bred for the light-soil FCV regime; not a black-soil, bidi or chewing type
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Andhra Pradesh
- Karnataka
- Telangana
Frequently asked questions
Why is Siri grown in both Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka?
Because it is a widely adapted FCV variety that performs consistently across the different light-soil conditions of both the Andhra and the Karnataka (Mysore) FCV belts, giving a stable yield and a dependable bright-grade proportion. That adaptability is its main selling point over more locally specialised varieties.
Does Siri resist black shank?
No. Siri has no special resistance to black shank. On any field where the disease has appeared, it must be grown after a 2–3 year rotation with a non-host such as a cereal or sorghum, on ridges with sharp drainage, and with a base fungicide drench where recommended.
Sourced from: ICAR-Central Tobacco Research Institute (CTRI), Rajahmundry, Tobacco Board, India. editorial policy.