Effect of Organic Fertilizer on Yield and Quality of Flue-cured Tobacco in Weibei Loess Tableland
Studying the effects of organic fertilizer on flue-cured tobacco yield and quality can provide a theoretical basis for the application of organic fertilizer partially replacing chemical fertilizer in flue-cured tobacco production regions in Weibei dry plateau of Shaanxi Province.Through a combination of field experiment,laboratory chemical analysis and sensory evaluation,the effects of partially replacing chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer on the growth,development,yield,chemical composition,sensory evaluation of smoking quality,and economic benefits of flue-cured tobacco were investigated.The results showed that replacing 20%to 40%of chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer was beneficial for the early maturity of flue-cured tobacco.During the maturity stage,it led to a decrease in the SPAD value of the forth leaves of tobacco by 5.63%to 6.83%.Compared to conventional fertilization,the proportion of upper-medium grade tobacco leaves increased by 19.94%to 29.76%when organic fertilizer partially replaced 20%to 40%of chemical fertilizer.The total output value and net output value increased by 4.70%to 6.96%and 8.12%to 20.26%,respectively.The comprehensive consuming evaluation score was significantly higher in 10%of chemical fertilizer replaced by organic fertilizer treatment than other treatments.Principal component analysis was used to comprehensively evaluate the 11 indicators representing the quality of flue-cured tobacco.The treatment with organic fertilizer partially replacing 30%of chemical fertilizer obtained the highest overall score,followed by the treatment with organic fertilizer replacing 20%of chemical fertilizer,and then the treatment with organic fertilizer replacing 40%of chemical fertilizer.In the dry terraced tobacco area of the northern Wei River Valley in Shaanxi,replacing 20%to 40%of chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer can promote the inherent coordination of tobacco chemical composition,significantly enhance tobacco maturity,increase the proportion of upper-medium grade tobacco leaves,and improve the economic benefits of flue-cured tobacco.