Abstract
U.S. tobacco growers are competing in a recently deregulated market with greater supply coming from abroad and shrinking U.S. demand for their product. Tobacco production based on preplant fertilization and reliance on natural precipitation has become less profitable under current conditions. This study tests the benefit of irrigation, fertigation, and plasticulture to produce higher tobacco yield and quality while reducing carcinogens, tobacco specific nitrosamines (TSNA). Burley tobacco (TN 90) was grown at Greeneville, Tennessee (Lindside silt loam) and Springfield, Tennessee (Dickson silt loam) during the years 2005-2007. In one set of treatments, drip irrigation supplemented rainfall to supply at least 2.54 cm/wk in order to maintain soil tension at more optimal levels. Fertigation also used supplemental irrigation but applied nitrogen fertilizer in four split applications intended to better match the plant's demand for nitrogen. Plasticulture used the same fertigation protocol but added a plastic mulch covering to isolate the benefits that could be obtained from increasing soil temperature. Finally, all these production practices were tested at recommended and reduced nitrogen rates, 224 to 112 kg N/ha.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
