Chemical Composition of Irrigation Waters in the South Carolina Coastal Plain and Effects of Chlorides in Irrigation Water on the Quality of Flue‐Cured Tobacco¹

Abstract

Synopsis The chloride content of these waters ranged from 4 to 55 ppm. The average increase in percent chlorine in the cured leaf was 0.009 for each pound of chlorine added by the irrigation water. The smoking quality of the tobacco was lowered when the irrigation water contained 225 ppm chloride ions but the commercial grade was not affected significantly by chloride in the water.

Effect of Chloride in Irrigation Water on Oriental (Sun-Cured) Tobacco

“…In contrast, no significant difference in Maryland (Mulchi, 1982), Virginia (Collins and Hawks, 1993), and Burley (Fuqua et al, 1976) tobacco yield when different amounts of chloride were added to soil has been reported. Also, Peele et al (1960) found a nonsignificant yield response of flue-cured tobacco to chloride levels (5 to 225 mg L −1 ) in irrigation water. Karaivazoglou et al (2005) reported that the effect of chloride in irrigation water on total cured product yield of Virginia tobacco was dependent on the N fertilization form, with nitrate N restricting the detrimental effects of chloride in irrigation water up to 40 mg Cl L −1 .…”

Implications of chloride application rate and nitrogen fertilizer source to flue‐cured tobacco

“…In two growing environments, total N and alkaloid concentration was lowered as Cl − application rate increased from 8 to 112 kg ha −1 (Warren, 1990). Reducing sugar concentration was reported to increase with Cl − application by Peele, Webb, and Bullock (1960) and Sierra (1966). Warren (1990) confirmed this observation in lower-stalk tobacco sourced from one research environment.…”

“…Conversely, reducing sugar concentration increased when Cl − application increased from 0 to 34 kg ha −1 (Tables 3 and 9). Reducing sugars and Cl − application were positively correlated by Peele et al (1960) and are inversely related to total alkaloid concentration (Flower, 1999). In the current study, cured leaf Cl − and N concentrations were inversely related, a fact previously reported by Skogley and McCants (1963) and Mulchi (1982).…”

“…This recommendation includes Cl − applied from soil fumigants, such as 1,3‐dichloropropene and chloropicrin, which may supply as much as 39−67 kg Cl − ha −1 , depending upon application rate, method, and product selection (Moore et al., 2011). Additionally, North Carolina regulations for homogenized tobacco fertilizers guarantee that Cl − will not exceed more than one‐half of the N content for field fertilizer (Crouse, Crozier, Osmond, & Bowers, 2020). The same standards establish a maximum of 2% Cl − in top dressing fertilizers used in tobacco production (Crouse et al., 2020).…”

“…Additionally, North Carolina regulations for homogenized tobacco fertilizers guarantee that Cl − will not exceed more than one‐half of the N content for field fertilizer (Crouse, Crozier, Osmond, & Bowers, 2020). The same standards establish a maximum of 2% Cl − in top dressing fertilizers used in tobacco production (Crouse et al., 2020). Despite these standards, many producers have transitioned away from traditional homogenized tobacco grade fertilizer sources that are predominantly NO 3 − and contain limited Cl − , due to their cost and the lacking need to apply certain nutrients, such as P, that are contained within those blended nutrient sources (Vann & Inman, 2016).…”