The effects of metering Ca(NO₃)₂ as the sole source of N on shadegrown cigar wrapper tobacco by means of overhead irrigation were investigated. In 1980, N metered on at total rates of 134 and 202 kg/ha in eight equal installments throughout the growing season produced leaves with quality comparable to that fertilized with 252 kg/ha of N from conventional organic sources. While leaf quality was not affected, yields and crop indices increased linearly with increasing amounts of N applied. In 1981, metered and conventional treatments did not differ significantly in leaf quality, yield, or crop index at either 224 or 336 kg/ha of N and there were no significant differences between the two rates of N.

(Full article published with kind permission from "Tobacco International")