Effects of Supplementary Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilization on Characteristics of Sun Cured Tobacco in Semi-Arid Conditions

Abstract

ABSTRACT Nitrogen and water should be applied at the right time and amount to obtain optimum crop yield in arid and semi-arid regions. The study was carried out in 2017–2018 to investigate the effects of different supplementary irrigation levels applied after harvests, and different nitrogen sources on water use efficiency (WUE), yield and quality characteristics of sun-cured tobacco. The study included five different nitrogen sources (N1: zero-nitrogen, N2: ammonium nitrate, N3: ammonium sulfate, N4: calcium ammonium nitrate, and N5: urea) and four different irrigation treatments (I0:No irrigation; I33:66% deficit, I66:33% deficit and I100:100% full irrigation). The effects of nitrogen sources and supplementary irrigation treatments on plant height, leaf number, leaf width, leaf height, yield, quality grade, sugars, nicotine, phenolics, WUE and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) were statistically significant. Seasonal crop evapotranspiration values ranged between 117.7 and 235.3 mm. The highest WUE 1.65 kg m−3 and IWUE: 10.48 kg m−3 were recorded in I33 treatment. Plant characteristics were different between nitrogen sources; however, the results did not indicate a prominent nitrogen form. The results for supplementary irrigation revealed that the I100 treatment in semi-arid conditions increased the sun-cured tobacco yield by 22% with acceptable quality improvements. The gross income increased 1705 $ ha−1 with the increase in tobacco yield and sale price per hectare.