Optimizing Flue-cured Virginia (FCV) Tobacco Productivity Through Soil Inversion and Innovative Potassium Management Strategies

Aims: To study the effect of soil inversion along with potassium management strategies on the growth, productivity and potassium use efficiency of FCV tobacco growing on light textured Alfisols Study Design: Split Plot Design. Place and Duration of Study: A field experiment was conducted at ICAR – Central Tobacco Research Institute, Research Farm, Jeelugumilli during rabi 2022-23. Methodology: The experiment was laid out in split plot design with two soil inversion practices in main plots viz., M1, soil inversion with MB (Mould Board) plough to a depth of 25 cm and M2, without soil inversion and seven sub plot treatments viz., S1, without potassium, S2, 100% recommended dose of potassium (RDK) through sulphate of potash (SOP) treatments; S3, 75% RDK through SOP; S4, 100% RDK through SOP + Tobacco stalk biochar (TS Biochar) treatment [1:1] ; S5, 75% RDK through SOP + TS Biochar [1:1]; S6, 100% RDK through SOP + Barn wood Ashes (BWA) treatment [1:1]; S7, 75% RDK through SOP + BWA treatment [1:1], with each treatment being replicated thrice. Results: Results revealed that soil inversion has significantly influenced the yield attributes, yield, nutrient uptake and potassium use efficiency. Among the potassium supply strategies, the superior green leaf yield (10,625 kg ha-1), cured leaf yield (1695 kg ha-1); N, P, K uptake; potassium use efficiency and agronomic use efficiency were observed in the treatment S4, 100% K through SOP + TS Biochar (1:1) treatment [S4] than that of no K treatment. Moreover all, the quality parameters like nicotine (%), reducing sugars (%) and chloride (%) are in acceptable ranges in all the treatment plots. Conclusion: Under scarce potassium sulphate situation, soil inversion with MB plough and TS Biochar/ BWA can act as potassium supplements.