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Tobacco- a Threat to Environment

M. Al-Amin
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong

Fazley Arafat
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong

M. Iqbal Kabir
National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dhaka

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This study revealed that tobacco field contains a higher amount of potassium then forest and agricultural land. Forest and agriculture land do not show much variation in potassium content. From these four plots, it is found that average contents of potassium in soil of tobacco is 0.63 meq/100gm followed by forest 0.25 meq/100gm and agriculture 0.24 meq/100gm. That means normal agricultural crops do not require high amount of potassium as much as tobacco needed. Tobacco plant is particularly potassium-hungry, absorbing up to six times as much as other crops. One of the reasons for tobacco's high uptake of soil nutrients is the practice of topping the plants to stimulate leaf growth for ensuring higher nicotine content (Goodland et al, 1984). Potassium is leachable, so over-application of potassium increases the potentiality of water pollution. The study concluded that tobacco cultivation is increasing with time in Bandarban district and more farmers are involving in tobacco cultivation. This may change the socio-economic and cultivation pattern of the area. The study was carried out in deforestation and encroachment of forest land prone area and results showed that organic carbon stock is higher in forest floor than the deforested area now converted as tobacco field. The amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are found higher in tobacco cultivated land than other agricultural crop cultivated area and forest land. This is because in the tobacco field large amount of chemical fertilizers are added for the luxurious growth of tobacco leaves. Long-term over-application of chemical fertilizer in tobacco fields may cause an effect on soil. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium-containing inorganic and organic fertilizers can cause soil acidification when added at a large scale. This may lead to decreases in nutrient availability of soil.

Keywords: Tobacco, Tread to environment, Oven-dry, Bulk density, Density of population, Adjacent agriculture fields, Tobacco plant, Tobacco cultivation

Location: In Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Non-commodity: Pollution, Livelihood

Objectives:

Objectives of the study The general objective of the study was to get a scenario of tobacco cultivation in Bandarban district and its impact on forest. However, to fulfill the general objectives the specific objectives of this study are as follows. 1. To study the morphology of tobacco plant and cultivators status at Bandarban; 2. To measure and compare the organic carbon stock of forest floors, deforested areas presently occupied by tobacco and adjacent agriculture fields; 3. To measure and compare NPK contents of forest land, tobacco field and adjacent agriculture fields.

Methodology:

Location of the Study Area: Bandarban is situated in Chittagong division and its coordinates is 22.20ºN 92.35ºE. Lama Upazila with an area of 671.84 sq km, is bounded by Bandarban Shadar and Lohagara (chittagong) upazilas on the north, Naihkhongchhari and Alikodom upazila on the south, Ramu, Thanchi and Alikadam upazilas on the east, Chakaria upazila on the west. (Banglapedia, 2006) Demography: It has population of 64717; male 53.94%, female 46.06%.Muslim 70.30%, Buddist 22.81%, Hindu 3.43%, Christan 2.78%, others 0.68%. Marmas constitute the largest tribal group of people in the upazila and next Murong, Tripura, Chakma and Tanchangya are important. The density of the population is 324 per sq km. The literacy rate among town people is 21.2%; male 28.2% and female 12.7%. ( Banglapedia, 2006) Climate: Annual average temperature maximum 34.6ºC and minimum 13ºC. Annual rainfall of this region is 3031mm. ( Banglapedia, 2006) Administration: Lama Thana was established in 1923 and was turned into an Upazila in 1985. It consists of 5 union parishads, 18 mouzas and 247 villages. ( Banglapedia, 2006) Geology: Lama mostly consists of forest and hill. Main river is Matamuhuri. Plain and valleys are used for cultivation and hilly areas are generally containing forest. ( Banglapedia, 2006). Selection of the study site: The study was conducted in the tobacco cultivated area of Bandarban district. Three different site; forest area, deforestation area presently occupied by tobacco cultivation and adjacent agriculture land were selected from Lama Upazila under Bandarban district. Establishment of sample plots and collection of samples: Sample plot was selected purposively. At first an area of one acre was selected from forest land, deforested area presently occupied by tobacco and adjacent agriculture land as a block and then from each block three sample plot was selected. Soil sample then collected from these plots. Analysis of tobacco plant: Tobacco plant is collected from study area and the whole plant is study deeply. Leaf length and width is measured along with height of plant. Number of leaf, root length, flower and seed are also studied. Preparation of soil samples: Soil samples were taken in the Petridish and weighted in an electric balance. Then the soil samples were taken in the oven for more than 24 hours at 105? C. After removing the moisture from the soil completely again weight is taken, that is termed as dry weight. Determination of Bulk density Bulk density of the soil samples was determined from the dry weight of the samples. The weight of the Petridish was subtracted from the oven dry weight of the samples. Bulk density of the samples of different depth was then calculated using the following formulae. Bulk density = W/V Where, W= Oven dry weight of the soil V= Volume of the soil Determination of soil organic carbon Washed silica crucibles were dried in a muffle furnace at 105º C for 30 minutes and cooled. Weight of the crucible was taken in an electric balance and then exactly 5gm of oven-dry soil was taken in each crucible. The crucibles with soil then put into a muffle furnace and keep it at 850ºC for one and half hour. The crucibles were then cooled. After cooling the crucibles with ash were reweighed to determine the Loss of Ignition percent (LOI %). The formula for calculating LOI is given below: % LOI = W1/W x 100. Where, W1= Loss in weight W = weight of oven dry soil. Percentage carbon were calculated from the following equation (Ball.1964) %C = 0.476 x (%LOI - 1.47) Calculation procedure for organic carbon The calculation procedure for organic carbon for each horizon is the following: Organic carbon presence = C1 % Depth of horizon = (Final depth - initial depth) cm = D1cm Bulk density = B1 gm/cm3 OC1 (Organic carbon gm/cm3) = (C1/100) x B1 OC2 (Organic carbon gm/m2/horizon) = OC1 x D1 x 10000 OC3 (Organic carbon tone/ha/horizon) = (OC2 x 10000) / 1000000 Therefore, total organic carbon stock up to 1 meter depth of soil for any soil type = Addition of carbon stocks of all horizons of that soil type.

Source of Information: Social Change, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2015, pp. 18-38, @ 2015 YPSA; ISSN : 1997-938X

Article Link (Online Journal): www.ypsa.org/social-change

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The study concluded that tobacco cultivation is increasing with time in Bandarban district and more farmers are involving in tobacco cultivation. This may change the socio-economic and cultivation pattern of the area. The study was carried out in deforestation and encroachment of forest land prone area and results showed that organic carbon stock is higher in forest floor than the deforested area now converted as tobacco field. The amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are found higher in tobacco cultivated land than other agricultural crop cultivated area and forest land. This is because in the tobacco field large amount of chemical fertilizers are added for luxurious growth of tobacco leaves. Long-term over-application of chemical fertilizer in tobacco field may cause effect on soil. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium-containing inorganic and organic fertilizers can cause soil acidification when added at a large scale. This may lead to decreases in nutrient availability of soil.

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