674 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [15 Nov., 1919. 



MAJEURES AND FERTILIZERS FOR TOBACCO. 



By Temple A. J. Smith, Tobacco Expert. 



Tobacco is not an exhaustive crop, compared with such products as 

 wteat, oats, potatoes, &c. As a general rule, fertilizers are not applied, 

 but there can be no doubt certain forms should be used, as the tobacco 

 plant, though not a gross feeder, takes its requirements from the soil 

 in a short growing period of from twelve to twenty weeks, and the 

 quicker the plants grow the better the quality of the tobacco, and at 

 lie same time less working of the land and attention to the crop is 

 required. Consequently, the up-to-date grower should see that the land 

 is well supplied with a liberal supply of the necessary plant foods. 



A yield of tobacco totalling 1,875 lbs. weight of cured leaves and 

 stalks, which is a fairly large average return, takes from an acre the 

 following apiounts of the chief plant foods : — 



Nitrogen . . . . . . 65 lbs. 



Potash ■ . . . . . . 89 lbs. 



Phosphoric Acid . . . . 8 lbs. 



It will be seen from these figures that tobacco requires a large amount 

 of potash, a lesser quantity of nitrogen, and a small quantity of phos- 

 phoric acid. 



Nearly all Victorian soils are well supplied naturally with potash, 

 and nitrogen can be obtained in sufficient quantities by fallowing and 

 good cultivation. In most eases lime and phosphoric acid are the two 

 chief wants in most cases, and where lime is deficient, applications of 

 sulphate of lime, " gypsum," or ground limestone, in quantities ranging 

 from 5 cwt. per acre, to 2 tons per acre, will be found beneficial. The 

 effect of fairly large applications of lime will be to sweeten an acid soil, 

 destroy the larvae of insects, release potash already in the soil, and in- 

 crease nitrification, thus ensuring a greater supply of nitrogen. Lime will 

 also improve the mechanical condition of the soil. One application of 

 lime will show results in the soil over a period of from six years to 

 ten years, or more, according to the quantity used. 



Nitrogen has the effect of stimulating the growth of the crop, and 

 the production of a larger and heavier' yield. Too much nitrogen, 

 however, is liable to encourage a coarse tobacco leaf, with a heavy 

 nicotine content, which is not desirable in the lighter tobaccoes. "Where 

 nitrogen is required, red blood gives best results. Potash gives quality 

 to the tobacco, and improves its burning powers. Care should always 

 be taken to use only high-grade potash fertilizers — sulphate of potash 

 being the best — as the low-grade potash fertilizers, such as Kainit and 

 chloride of potash, have a detrimental effect on the burning of the leaf. 

 One to 2 cwt. of sulphate of potash is a good dressing. Phosphoric 

 acid has the effect of assisting the early growth of the crop, and main- 

 taining its health, and hastening maturity, an important matter with 

 the tobacco erop, as every week that tobacco is unnecessarily in the field 

 means more work in attention to suckers, and greater risk in loss from 

 frost, hail, or other troubles. 



Superphosphates supply phosphoric acid in the most available form, 

 and applications of from 1 to 2 cwt. per acre will be of great value 

 in ensuring a crop and lessening the growing period by two to three 

 weeks. 



