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Mo and N Effects on Growth, Yield, and Mo Composition of Burley Tobacco 1
Author(s) -
Sims J. L.,
Atkinson W. O.,
Smitobol Chirtchart
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1975.00021962006700060025x
Subject(s) - loam , fertilizer , dry matter , urea , chemistry , potassium , agronomy , human fertilization , nicotiana tabacum , field experiment , composition (language) , zoology , horticulture , soil water , biology , ecology , biochemistry , linguistics , philosophy , organic chemistry , gene
Nicotiana tabacum L., cv. ‘Ky‐14’, was grown in field experiments on Maury silt loam soil (clayey, mixed, mesic; Typic, paleudult) to determine the influence of Mo and N nutrition on growth, yield, and Mo concentration of burley tobacco. Previous studies have shown that high rates of commercial fertilizers commonly applied in hurley tobacco production decreased soil pH, concentration of soil and plant Mo, and depressed dry matter accumulation during early growth stages. The present studies were designed to evaluate the use of Mo and NO ‐ 3 sources of N fertilizer to increase early growth and final cured leaf yields. In one experiment conducted during 2 years, N as KNO 3 , NH 4 NO 3 , or urea was applied at rates of O, 224, and 448 kg N/ha. Potassium in the form of K 2 SO 4 , and in amounts equivalent to the K in KNO 3 was added to plots receiving NH 4 NO 3 and urea. In a second experiment conducted during 1 year N as Ca(NO 3 ) 2 or urea was applied at rates of 280 kg N/ha. No K 2 S0 4 was applied. Rates of Mo as sodium molybdate were O, 0.22, and 0.44 kg Mo/ha in Experiment 1 and O, 0.22, 0.44, and 0.88 kg Mo/ha in Experiment 2. In Experiment 1, dry matter accumulation during early growth was inversely related to rate of N and K fertilizer applied. Mo fertilization did not overcome the depressing effects of fertilizer on early growth, but a trend existed for both Mo and NO 3 ‐ sources of N to improve early growth. Mo significantly increased yields of cured leaf. Significant N rate × Mo rate and N and K fertilizer treatment × Mo rate interactions occurred for cured leaf yields. Response to Mo occurred only at the 224 kg N rate, and Mo applied at the rate of 0.44 kg/ha increased yields about 900 kg/ha over plots unfertilized with Mo in the presence of KNO 3 . Average plant Mo concentration during early growth was doubled by adding Mo at the 0.44 kg/ha rate and halved by adding N at the 448 kg/ha rate. The critical concentration of Mo for dry matter accumulation during early growth appeared to be about 0.38 μ/g dry weight. Results of Experiment 2 confirmed those of Experiment 1 regarding effects of NO 3 ‐ sources and Mo fertilization. Additionally, Mn concentration in plants treated with Ca(NO 3 ) 2 was about half that of urea‐treated plants, and in urea‐treated plants Mn concentration was reduced by one‐half by Mo fertilization. Since Mn toxicity of tobacco is common in hurley production, these findings are of particular significance.