EFFECT OF SOURCES AND LEVELS OF POTASSIUM ON THE YIELD AND QUALITY OF CHEWING TOBACCO ( NICOTIANA TABACUM L.)

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during 2004-05 and 2005-06 at Central Tobacco Research Institute Research station, Vedasandur to study the effect of sources and levels of K2O on the yield, chewing quality, economics and residual soil K status. The treatments consisted of two sources of K2O viz., KCl and K2SO4 with three levels of K2O viz., 50, 100 and 150 kg K2O/ha. First grade leaf yield (2.59 t/ ha) increased with 50 kg K2O as KCl by 17% over no K2O. Significantly higher chewing quality scores (74 to 76) out of 80 were recorded with K2O applied treatments over no K2O. Net return (Rs. 34,700/ ha) was 52% higher with 50 kg K2O as KCl over no K2O. Lamina K uptake and residual soil K was significantly higher with 150 kg K2O/ha irrespective of the sources. It was concluded that 50 kg K2O/ha as KCl would be optimum for increased first grade leaf yield, chewing quality, net returns and soil residual K.