The quality of Maryland tobacco as influenced by N fertility and sucker‐control method is not well documented. Four N‐fertility rates (67.2, 134.4, 201.6, and 268.8 kg ha−1 N) along with five methods of sucker control [topped nonsuckered, topped handsuckered, KMH (K salt of 1‐2‐dihydro‐3,6‐pyridazinedione‐meleic hydrazide), Prime + {2‐chloro‐N‐[2‐dinitro‐4‐(trifluoromethyl)‐phenyl]‐N‐ethyl‐6‐fluorobenzenemethanamine}, and OST‐85 (1‐decanol plus 1‐octanol mixture)] were imposed on the tobacco (Nicotiana tabucum L.) cultivar MD 609 in 1983 and 1984. Yield, value, burn duration, filling capacity, total alkaloids of cured leaf, plus NO3‐N and total N at topping, harvest, and after curing were evaluated. Drought during July 1983 adversely affected most quality factors. Increasing N fertility increased yield, total alkaloids, total N, and NO3‐N while lowering burn duration, filling capacity, and value. Nitrogen‐fertilizer rates above 134.4 kg ha−1 N appear to have no benefit. Chemical sucker control increased yields and value with no adverse effect on quality or interaction with the different N‐fertility rates.