NITRATE AND CHLORIDE FERTILIZATION EFFECTS ON YIELD AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF BURLEY TOBACCO LEAVES AND SMOKE

Abstract

A field study was conducted to determine the effect of varying N and Cl− rates on the yield and chemical composition of burley tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Ky-14) leaves and smoke. Nitrate and total N concentrations in leaf were markedly increased when N fertilizer rates were increased and were inversely related to the amount of Cl− applied. Increasing the Cl− rate from 0 to 224 kg Cl−/ha resulted in a 25% reduction in NO3− concentration. Chloride concentrations of the cured leaves were increased nearly 15-fold by increasing rates of Cl−. Increasing the N rate resulted in a reduction in Cl− concentrations at each Cl− level. Increasing chloride additions did not markedly influence yield. Results indicate that nitrate and total-N concentrations in the cured leaves can be significantly lowered by applying proper amounts of elements, such as Cl−, without a reduction in yield. Nitrogen fertilization increased concentrations of nicotine slightly, decreased total phenols, and greatly increased nitric oxide (NO) concentration in cigarette smoke. In contrast, Cl− fertilization resulted in decreased concentrations of the nitrogenous constituents, increased TPM and total phenol, and had small effects on the level of NO in cigarette smoke.