The Agronomy Study Group is concerned with the scientific study of the production of all types of tobacco leaf. This embraces all crop management practices including propagation, cultivation, harvesting and curing, and environmental factors that influence yield and usability. It further incorporates the principles of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) that lead to efficient, sustainable tobacco production.
The Agronomy Study Group includes the following Sub-Group and Task Forces:
· Sub-Group TSNA in Air-cured Tobacco (2006)
Objectives:
To develop a standardized nornicotine screening protocol so that baseline levels of nornicotine are comparable in tobacco seed varieties used by investigators.
To develop guidelines or suggested critical survey questions for farmer practice surveys so that results can be compared within and between tobacco origins.
To develop a collaborative study which uses hobo loggers or a suitable substitute to collect curing conditions and possible impact of TSNA levels for tobaccos of diverse origins and curing environments. To attempt to standardize placement of equipment and sample protocols.
Review the issues of post cure tobacco storage and ventilation parameters.
Resolve sample handling of post-cure tobacco for TSNA determination.
· Task Force Growth Stages and Identification Keys for Tobacco (2006)
Objectives:
Observe and record the growth of different types of tobacco under field conditions in a range of environments to test practicability of the proposed growth stages and their identification keys.
Improve and modify the proposed scale as necessary to ensure that it can be applied in practice.
Agree on a scale that conforms with the internationally accepted BBCH scale for crop plants that can be adopted as a practical standard for accurately identifying the different growth stages of tobacco.
· Task Force Curing Technology (2008)
Objectives:
Identify different curing systems in use around the world.
Identify energy efficient curing practices and devices in use with the various systems.
Quantify energy consumption per unit weight of cured tobacco.
| Phytopathology Study Group | Smoke Science Group | Product Technology Group |
Any requests for further information and/or convenors' contact details should be addressed to the CORESTA Secretariat (see Contacts).