Fertilizer Placement Effects on Growth, Yield, and Chemical Composition of Burley Tobacco¹

Abstract

Application of high rates of commercial fertilizers to burley tobacco (Nicotiana tabacumL.) soils through commonly used broadcast methods increases the osmotic pressure of the soil solution and soil acidity. Such changes in the soil may result in damage to plant roots, nutrient toxicities and deficiencies, delayed growth and maturity, and reduced yields. The current study was conducted to determine the influence of placing N and K fertilizers in bands of varying width between rows on selected chemical characteristics of soil (Maury silt loam, clayey, mixed mesic, Typic Paleudalf) and on growth, yield, and chemical composition of burley tobacco, cv. Ky‐14. Field experiments were conducted during 1979 to 1980 at two locations. Treatments consisted of 840 kg NH4NO3ha−1and 672 kg K2SO4ha−1applied either broadcast or in bands 80, 60, 40, and 20 cm wide centered between rows. Plant samples were taken at 45 days, and after maturity and curing for growth, yield, and chemical analysis. Surface soil pH depression in the row decreased as distance of the fertilized band from the row increased and pH in rows of the 20 cm band treatment remained about 0.3 to 0.5 pH units higher throughout the season than in broadcast treatments. The reverse was true for soil pH in the fertilized bands, with the 20 cm band treatment having lowest pH. Placement of the fertilizer in bands away from the row resulted in decreased electrical conductivity of the soil solution in the row, in decreased DTPA‐extractable Mn in the row, lower concentration of plant Mn and K, and fewer days to flower. In contrast, banding increased plant dry weight (21 to 40%) and plant Mg concentration at 45 days, cured leaf yields (9%), value per ha, and cured leaf alkaloid concentration.

Response of burley tobacco to banded fertilizer and in‐row subsoiling

“…Hence, it was expected that EC values for soil collected from the fertilized band would be greater than that from broadcast treatments and that they would increase with rate of fertilization. In the current study, the data for EC are comparable in magnitude to values reported previously for band treatments (20 cm wide) of a mixture of 840 kg NH 4 NO 3 /ha and 672 kg KjSO 4 /ha, but somewhat higher than the treatments applied broadcast (Sims et al, 1984). Similar to the earlier study, larger values for EC were measured during the second year of production.…”

“…Crop response to band placement of fertilizer, compared to broadcast application, varies widely depending on plant species, kind and rate of nutrient applied, soil nutrient level, soil volume fertilized, and other soil and environmental conditions (Barber, 1974;Barber etal., 1985;Kovar and Barber, 1987;Peterson etal., 1981;Randall and Hoeft, 1988;Sims et al, 1984;Sims et al, 1989;Sims and Wells, 1990;Welch et al, 1966). Generally, in burley tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) production, drill banding 70% or more of the nitrogen (N) fertilizer 30 cm to both sides of the row shortly after transplanting has greatly alleviated Mn toxicity and other nutrient imbalances, improved early growth and yield, and provided some increase in efficiency of N use when compared to broadcasting.…”

“…Generally, in burley tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) production, drill banding 70% or more of the nitrogen (N) fertilizer 30 cm to both sides of the row shortly after transplanting has greatly alleviated Mn toxicity and other nutrient imbalances, improved early growth and yield, and provided some increase in efficiency of N use when compared to broadcasting. Similarly, placement of K away from the row has resulted in lowered Mn toxicity and reduced fertilizer salt injury to plants over broadcasting on soils testing very high in K (Sims and Wells, 1990;Sims et al, 1984;Sims et al, 1989).…”

A solution culture study of manganese‐tolerant and ‐sensitive tobacco genotypes

“…High rates of fertilizer application in the field can often result in an injurious salt effect on tobacco growth (Miller and Ohlrogge, 1977;Sims et al, 1984). Mylonas and McCants (1970) employing sand culture studies found that salt concentration in the medium for optimal tobacco growth ranged from 0.8 to 1.24 mmhos/cm.…”

“…In Kentucky and other regions of the Eastern United States, Mn toxicity in tobacco is due primarily to continuous field application of acidifying fertilizers (Sims and Atkinson, 1974;Sims et al, 1984). Although liming ameliorates Mn toxicity in most soils, the failure to lime adequately, combined with continuous tobacco production fosters soil acidification.…”