The Effect of Tillage Methods and Types of Fertilizer on the Quality of Virginia Tobacco Yield in Central Lombok Regency

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) is one of the leading agricultural commodities, alongside rice, widely cultivated in West Nusa Tenggara, particularly in Central Lombok. A majority of the population is engaged in Virginia tobacco farming. However, an optimal combination of tillage practices and fertilizer formulations that can enhance yield and quality at a cost suitable for farmers has not yet been identified. This study aims to determine the most effective tillage method and fertilizer formulation that can improve the yield and quality of Virginia tobacco at an economically feasible cost. The research employed a Split-Plot Randomized Block Design (RBD) with two factors: tillage (C) as the main plot and fertilizer formulation (P) as the subplot. The fertilizer formulation consisted of four levels and was replicated three times. A total of eight treatment combinations (C × P) were tested, each applied in three replicate plots. The results showed that optimal tillage (Co) produced the best outcomes. Additionally, fertilizer formulation Pp significantly increased both the fresh leaf weight and oven-dried leaf weight per plant compared to other treatments. The combination of Co and Pp (CoPp) was found to be the most effective treatment, providing relatively high yield and quality at a comparatively low cost.