Affect of Fertilization and Irrigation on Tobacco


ture will deplete the plant food supply by leaching, particularly on
the light sandy soils of the Atlantic Coastal Plain. A liberal
supply of plant food is essential to sustain rapid growth. Gar-
ner comments further that recent advances in research have
been made with fertilization and management of tobacco which
serve to minimize the harmful effects of deficient rainfall on the
growth and quality of tobacco. He found that heavy rates of
potash and a limited amount of chlorides in the fertilizer were
both effective in increasing drought resistance. Organic matter
also was found to have a significant bearing on water relations.

 I J I H, L. I LL P. E F A. L L1















 Controlled studies with irrigation for tobacco are limited.
Davis (11) and Duffie (12) have reported that irrigation in
Georgia and South Carolina is gaining in popularity and growers
feel that their irrigation system is a good form of insurance.
 Gaines (13) reported that irrigation with soil fumigation in-
creased yields by 620 pounds per acre, or from 1,160 to 1,780
pounds per acre. Irrigation without soil fumigation in the
same test showed an increase of 350 pounds per acre. Soil
fumigation increased yields as much as 1,000 pounds per acre in
a field heavily infested with root-knot, while in the absence of
root-knot no increase was received.
 Davis (11) stated that W. H. Warrick and John Deen of
Georgia were probably the first flue-cured tobacco growers to
 4-













 Fig. 3.-Diagram of plot layout (one replication).







 irrigate tobacco in the South. Wd studies with irrigation for tobacco arelimited an
 Davis (11) and Duffie (12) have reported that irrigation in
 Georgia and South Carolina is gaining in popularity and growers
 feel that their irrigation system is a good form of insurance.
 Gaines (13) reported that irrigation with soil fumigation in-
 creased yields by 620 pounds per acre, or from 1,160 to 1,780
 pounds per acre. Irrigation without soil fumigation in the



 increase test showed an increase of 350 pounds per acre with an increased
 fumigation increased yields as much as 1,000 pounds per acre in275.
 a field heavily infested with root-knot, while in the absence of
root-knot no increase was received.
 Davis (11) stated that W. H. Warrick and John Deen of
Georgia were probably the first flue-cured tobacco growers to
irrigate tobacco in the South. With irrigation they realized an
increase of 500 pounds of tobacco per acre with an increased
value of $275.