Results of Trial Oriental Tobacco Varieties Planting in Ninh Thuan and Dak Lak Province, Vietnam in 2021

The oriental tobacco trial was planted to evaluate the possibility of producing Oriental tobacco in Vietnam. Vietnam Tobacco Institute tested six oriental tobacco varieties in Ninh Son district under Ninh Thuan province in 2019 - 2020. Those varieties originated from Bulgaria country were bred and multiplied for other countries researching the adaptability of variety. The test results showed that oriental tobacco varieties were good growing and proper for soil and climate conditions in Ninh Thuan province. Using the trial varieties selected, we have collected the best two varieties to expand the growing area in Ninh Thuan and Dak Lak provinces in the year 2021, including the Basma 16 and Hanski 227 varieties. In 2021, we tried the Basma 16 with a planting density of 280.000 plants/ha, and Hanski 227 was 110.000 plants/ha. Based on results of the soil analysis, the fertilizer formula in Ninh Thuan province consisted of 2 levels as PB1 (30N + 0P2O5 + 50K2O kg/ha) and PB2 (40N + 0P2O5 + 50K2O kg/ha); whilst for Dak Lak province, the fertilizer formula was PB1 (30N + 30P2O5 + 50K2O kg/ha), PB2 was 40N + 30P2O5 + 50K2O kg/ha with N: (NH4NO3), P: (Ca(H2PO4)2) and K: (K2SO4). The experiments were pairs designed, with every formula of 500 m2. The trial results of 2021 showed that in two levels of fertilizer, the dry yield, nicotine content, sugar content, and chlorine content of oriental tobacco varieties in Ninh Thuan province ranged from 1.44 - 1.70 tons/ha, 0.68 - 1.33%, 19.2 - 22.2%, and 1.41 - 1.80%; meanwhile in Dak Lak province were 1.57 - 1.82 tons/ha, 1.0 - 1.39%, 9.8 - 12.0%, and 0.27 - 0.31%. Based on the results analysis of chemical compositions in tobacco leaves and smoking properties, the oriental tobacco in Dak Lak has good quality and was similar to the oriental tobacco imported from Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece countries. In contrast, in Ninh Thuan, oriental tobacco was not having good quality but hot smoke and poorly burning. So, the Dak Lak province was a good region for oriental tobacco in Vietnam with formulas of trial fertilizer above applied. In 2022, we will continue to expand the growing areas of oriental tobacco in Dak Lak province to limit the importation of oriental tobacco products from foreign countries.