Agriculture and Environment: Tobacco

Better Management Practices: Soil Conservation Strategies

In the meantime, however, there are ways to produce tobacco that have fewer environmental impacts.

In the United States, no-till production is a workable option for farmers trying to save topsoil and soil moisture and to make tobacco production more sustainable.

To replace tillage, herbicides are required to kill the existing vegetation before planting. Periodic pesticide use is also required to minimise pest outbreaks.

However, because this technique maintains ground cover at all times, it minimises pesticide runoff as well as soil erosion. In addition it maintains higher levels of soil organic matter, which significantly improves soil water retention.

A disadvantage of the use of the no-till technique is the need for specialised equipment for irrigation and to maintain weed control.