The influence of FOMI fertilizers on the yield and quality of flue cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) in Tanzania

Eight levels of fertilizers were evaluated in a field experiment laid down in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications to investigate the effect of FOMI fertilizers on the yield and quality of flue-cured tobacco in 2023 to 2025 and 2024 to 2025 cropping seasons. Data collected includes leaf area, dry leaf yield and grade indices. Data were analysed using STATISTICA 8th edition. Results indicates that application of FOMI SUPA followed by FOMI CANS and standard fertilizer gave the highest dry leaf yields and grade indices during the 2023/2024 growing season with heavy rainfall at 1582.55 ± 69.09 kg/ha and 1389.89 ± 145.72 kg/ha and grade indices of 1.54 ± 0.12 and 1.74 ± 0.15, respectively. In the second cropping season with moderate rainfall, application of FOMI GREEN followed by FOMI NENEPESHA had higher dry leaf yield of 2190.20 ± 1.13 than the standard fertilizer with 2175.95 ± 1.30 kg/ha. It was concluded that the application of FOMI SUPA followed by FOMI CANS works better in the heavy rain season while that of FOMI GREEN and FOMI NENEPESHA works better for the adequate or average rainfall season. Key words: FOMI fertilizers, dry leaf yield, grade indices, flue-cured tobacco.