EFFECT OF FOLIAR SPRAY OF Zn, Mg AND TOPPING LEVELS ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF FCV TOBACCO CV. KANCHAN IN NORTHERN LIGHT SOILS (ALFISOLS) OF ANDHRA PRADESH

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted for two consecutive seasons (2004-05 and 2005-06) to study the influence of foliar spray and topping level on yield and quality of FCV tobacco cv. Kanchan proved that two foliar sprays of 0.5% Zn SO4 + 0.5% Mg SO4 at 35 and 45 days after planting enhanced mean green leaf yield, cured leaf yield and grade index by 2303.5 (15.7%), 116 (5.1%) and 236.5 kg/ ha (14.77%) respectively as compared to two water sprays. Topping at 24 and 28 leaves both being on a par enhanced mean green leaf yield by 2649 (18.6%) and 2701 kg/ha (19.0%), cured leaf yield by 500 (24.8%) and 529 kg/ha (26.3%), and that of grade index by 489 (35.1%) and 519 kg/ha (37.2%), respectively as compared to 16 leaves topping level. Foliar sprays of 0.5% Zn SO4 + 0.5% Mg SO4 recorded significantly higher reducing sugars in P and X positions in both the seasons and higher nicotine in P, X, L and T positions during 2004-05 and in P and X positions only during 200506 as compared to other foliar sprays. Topping at 28 leaves level recorded significantly lower reducing sugars and nicotine content and there was a significant increase in reducing sugars and nicotine content as the topping level decreased from 28 to 16 leaves. Chlorides were well within the acceptable limits of good quality. It can be concluded that two foliar sprays of ZnSO4 + Mg SO4 at 35 and 45 days after planting and topping at 24 or 28 leaves would be optimum for the cv. Kanchan for getting higher green leaf yield, cured leaf yield and grade index with superior quality in irrigated Alfisols of Andhra Pradesh.