International Journal of Agricultural Science Research Vol. 5(2), pp. 027-034, March 2016 ISSN 2327-3321 ©2016 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of different sources of nitrogen fertilizers on yield and quality of dark fire cured tobacco

Mapunda, H.G.¹*, Gama, B.M.², Shenkalwa, E.M.², Nyoni, T.X.³ and Bucheyeki, T.L.²

¹Tobacco Research Institute of Tanzania P.O. Box 431, Tabora, Tanzania.

²Tumbi Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 306, Tabora, Tanzania.

³Tanzania Cashew nut Authority, P.O. Box 533, Mtwara, Tanzania.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: hgmapunda@yahoo.com.

Accepted 16 March, 2016

Abstract

Soil acidification with Sulphate of Ammonia fertilizer was a big challenge to dark fire cured tobacco growers in Tanzania. A trial was conducted for three years from 2004 to 2007 in Ruvuma region, located in Southern Highlands of Tanzania. The trial was conducted to evaluate different sources of nitrogenous fertilizers in order to get a suitable alternative source of nitrogen for dark fire cured tobacco yield and quality. Fertilizers involved were Sulphate of Ammonia (SA) as control, NPK 20:10:10, Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), Urea and Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN). Seventeen farmers’ fields were involved in the research trial. Each farmer was a replicate. Results showed that 70.6% of soils had moderate acidity (pH 5.1 to 6.0). In all seasons, NPK 20:10:10 gave the longest leaves and the highest dry leaf yield (1108.4, 2563.5 and 2054.4 kg ha^-1). In this trial, NPK 20:10:10 showed the combined effect of the macroelements which influenced the increase in yield and quality of tobacco leaves. The NPK 20:10:10 gave highest leaf quality as was reflected by grade indices, which were 859.7 and 887.7 in seasons 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 respectively. Urea and CAN had poor performance when rainfall was erratic in December 2005 and January 2006. More so, when Urea and CAN were applied on tobacco, the leaves produced were small and short when compared with SA, NPK 20:10:10 and DAP and hence they produced low yield and quality of dark fire cured tobacco. Therefore NPK 20:10:10 could be the best alternative to SA in DFC production in Ruvuma region.

Key words: Dark fire, tobacco, nitrogenous fertilizers, Tanzania.