DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 39

 Another very important practice in using irrigation is to
utilize a split application of the fertilizer. It is recommended
that from one-half to three-fourths of the fertilizer be applied
under the tobacco and the additional as a side application
from three to four weeks after transplanting.


 TABLE 8

 AVERAGE DAILY WATER USE FOR IRRIGATED


TOBACCO PLANTED ON OR ABOUT APRIL 1*


 Period
Days after Transplanting


8-14
15-21
22-28
29-35
36-42
43-49
50-56
57-63
64-70
71-77
78-84
85-91


Inches per Day


.080
.100
.110
.130
.160
.220
.250
.220
.160
.150
.140
.130


 To focus the attention of the value of irrigation the follow-
ing figures are given to show how irrigation has contributed
to the production picture and income within a county. These
figures were compiled from growers records during the years
1955 and 1956 and are presented in table 12.
 In 1955 the average yield for non-irrigated tobacco (1115
acres) was 1417 pounds per acre, with a 46.2 cents per pound
selling price. The average yield for irrigated tobacco (439
acres) was 1830 pounds per acre. The selling price averaged
52.7 cents per pound. It should be noted that the irrigated
tobacco was only 28.2 per cent of total acreage and produced
36.7 per cent of the total gross value of the crop.