Influence of water stress on yield and quality of flue-cured tobacco

Abstract

In a field experiment with tobacco the effect of water stress at each of four times during the period of rapid growth following establishment was compared with an unstressed control. Water stress as a result of withholding irrigation was applied prior to 'budding', at 'budding', at 'early flower', and at 'full flower'. The soil moisture of the control treatment was maintained above 60 per cent of the soil moisture held at field capacity. The stress treatments ranged from 7 to 14 days and at the recommencement of irrigation the soil moisture ranged from 30-50 per cent of the soil water held at field capacity. All stress treatments were completed prior to the occurrence of either sunburn or permanent wilting. No water stress treatment applied to tobacco during the period of rapid growth following establishment improved yield or leaf quality. Depending on the timing, water stress during this growth period was shown to be detrimental to leaf yield and quality. Water stress at 'budding' reduced the harvested leaf area and cured leaf yields. Water stress during the flowering period resulted in an 'off type', 'immature' cured leaf of reduced commercial value.