What is rabbing in tobacco?

Rabbing in tobacco:

1. Tobacco seedlings are very delicate; hence, the seeds are sown in nursery beds.
2. When the seedlings acquire a certain size, they are transferred to the main field.
3. The nursery beds have to be sterilized before sowing to eliminate insects, weeds, and seeds of other plants.
4. Sterilization is achieved by a process called rabbing.
5. A 15-20 cm thick layer of sugarcane waste, paddy straw, stalks of tobacco, and organic waste is spread on the soil surface and burnt. The burning process kills existing weeds and seeds, and eggs of insects from the soil surface.