Objective Effects of applying calcium-magnesium (Ca-Mg) soil conditioners on yield and quality of cigar tobacco grown on acidic red soil in Longyan were studied.
Method A field experimentation with a randomized block design was conducted at Peifeng Town, Yongding District, Longyan City, Fujian Province. Along with control without addition of any conditioner (A), applications of dolomite powder at 750 kg·hm−2 (B), 1,500 kg·hm−2 (C), 2,250 kg·hm−2 (D) or 3,000 kg·hm−2 (E), and those of 1,500kg·hm−2 dolomite powder with added magnesium hydroxide at 150 kg·hm−2 (F) or 300 kg·hm−2 (G) in the soil were implemented for tobacco cultivation. Operational financial return and agronomic, physical, chemical, and sensory characteristics of the tobacco as affected by the treatments were determined.
Result The added Ca-Mg conditioners in soil significantly improved the yield and quality of tobacco leaves. Compared to A, the treatments raised the leaf yield by 10.77-24.56% with an increased revenue by 9,945.75-32,030.10 yuan·hm−2. Among them, C rendered the highest yield of 1,618.65 kg·hm−2 and output value of 184,702.65 yuan·hm−2. Dolomite boosted the nicotine content in tobacco, and when the addition exceeded 750 kg·hm−2, Ca increased by 4.95-24.27%, Mg rose by 25.39-83.77%, iron decreased by 9.42-31.36%, and Mn declined by 49.57-70.20% in comparison to A, while potassium reduced to 4.70-5.40%. Under F, the tobacco attained an overall sensory evaluation score of 77.33 with prominent aroma, sweetness, and smoothness but minimal off-flavors and irritating elements, as well as high combustion performance and light color burnt ash.
Conclusion In the Longyan region, cigar tobacco cultivation on acidic soils applied with 1,500 kg·hm−2 of dolomite powder and 150 kg·hm−2 of magnesium hydroxide raised the soil pH from 4.91 to 5.85-5.97. It not only effectively increased Ca and Mg in the cigar tobacco leaves but also significantly improved the sensory quality, yield, and output value of the economic crop.
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