Performance of flue-cured Virginia tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum)-based cropping systems under irrigated Alfisols of Andhra Pradesh

A field experiment with flue cured Virginia tobacco (Nicotiana tabaccum L.)-based cropping systems was conducted at Jeelugumilli, Andhra Pradesh, from 1997–98 to 1999–2000 to find out sustainable profitable production in irrigated Alfisols of Andhra Pradesh. The experiment comprised 10 cropping systems, i.e. fallow-tobacco, fallow-tobacco-groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) groundnut-tobacco, gingelly (Sesamum indicum L.)-tobacco, soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]-tobacco, greengram–tobaccc–sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] (fodder), blackgram-tobacco-maize (Zea mays L), maize-tobacco, sunnhemp (in-situ green manuring)-tobacco and sunnhemp (In-situ green manuring)-tobaccc-groundnut. Sunnhemp (in-situ green manuring)-tobacco, sunnhemp (in-situ green manuring)-tobacco-groundnut, greengram-tobacco-sorghum (fodder) and blackgram-tobacco-maize cropping sequences recorded more yields of tobacco and proved more remunerative than other sequences. A preceding legume of green-manure crop resulted in relatively higher nitrogen and nicotine in succeeding tobacco. However, quality parameters of tobacco leaf in all the cropping sequences were within the acceptable limits.